GLOBAL CONNECTIONS INQUIRY
Exploring Global Connections
DAY 1 ACTIVITY
15-20 Minutes
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Explore where items you consume were produced
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Paper or notebook
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Pencil, pen, or other writing tool
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“Where Is That From?” handout (optional)
THIS WEEK
We’re thinking about
the question:
“How do the things we use connect us to people and places around the world?”
Your challenge this week is to create a “My Global Connections Infographic” showing how the everyday items you consume connect you to distant people and places.
Let's Get Started!
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What did you eat this morning? What are you wearing? Have you or anyone in your house used a cell phone today?
Many of the things we use every day have journeyed from around the world to get to us. We are connected to distant places through the items we consume.
We also live in a global community with the people that produce these items. We are connected to them through the trade of ideas, goods, and services.
consume:
to eat, drink, use, or buy
Take a close look at the label on the item below to learn how far it traveled.
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Maybe you have played music on a keyboard similar to this one. If so, have you ever wondered where it was made?
On most products, you can find a label or other written message that describes where they were produced.
Can you guess where this keyboard was made?
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This label is found on the back of the keyboard.
It tells you some basic information about the product, including that it was made in China.
View the map below to observe how far the item traveled.
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Make the map bigger by clicking on it.
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Do you notice the names of the continents?
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Do you notice the lines that show where different countries are?
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A few of these countries have been labeled with their names.
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Can you find China on the map and notice which continent it is in?
Examine more everyday items below to learn how far they traveled.
Perhaps you can kick a soccer ball pretty far… but not as far as this soccer ball has traveled! This soccer ball was made in Pakistan.
See all those pentagons and hexagons? Chances are they were stitched together by hand.
Many of the fruits and vegetables we eat come from other places in the world.
Bananas grow in warm, tropical climates. These bananas come from Ecuador, which is among the top five countries that produce bananas.
Blueberries are grown in the United States, but often the blueberries we eat in winter have made the long trip from Chile!
Have you noticed the tags inside your clothes? Well, those tags tell a great story! They tell where your clothes were made.
This shirt may say "USA" on the front, but it was actually made in Egypt!
View the map below to observe the country and continent where these items began their journeys to the United States.
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Make the map bigger by clicking on it.
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Look at the continents and countries on the map.
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Can you find Pakistan, Ecuador, Chile, and Egypt on the map and notice which continent each country is in?
Your challenge this week:
Create a “My Global Connections Infographic” that shows how the everyday items you consume connect you to distant people and places.
Today, you will discover where the items that you use come from.
Think about:
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Where do you think the items in your home came from?
You're going to:
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Go on an object hunt! Look around your home to find out where items came from.
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Write down the following information on a piece of paper (or use the “Where Is That From?” handout if you like):
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The name of the item, the country it was made in, and the continent that country is in
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Use the Countries of Each Continent resource to help you.
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Happy Hunting! Here are a few ideas to think about that will help you in your search:
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Look for labels that say “product of” or “made in.”
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It’s okay if an object doesn’t have a label that says where it was made – just move on to another item!
Learn more about mapping and geography terms, such as hemispheres, poles, lines of latitude and longitude, and more!