Social Studies: Globalization: Connecting the World
How trade, technology, culture, and people link communities across the globe
Social Studies: Globalization: Connecting the World
How trade, technology, culture, and people link communities across the globe
Social Studies - Grade 6-8
- 1
Define globalization in your own words. Include one example of how your daily life is connected to people or places in another country.
Think about the clothes, food, apps, music, or technology you use.
Globalization is the way countries and people around the world become connected through trade, technology, travel, culture, and communication. One example is wearing shoes made in another country or using a phone with parts from several countries. - 2
A T-shirt is made with cotton grown in India, sewn in Vietnam, shipped through Singapore, and sold in the United States. Explain how this example shows globalization.
This example shows globalization because the T-shirt is produced through the work, resources, transportation, and trade of several countries. People in different parts of the world are connected through the process of making and selling one product. - 3
List two benefits of globalization for consumers.
Consumers are people who buy and use goods and services.
Globalization can give consumers more choices and access to products from many countries. It can also lower prices because companies may produce goods where materials or labor cost less. - 4
List two challenges or problems that can be caused by globalization.
Globalization can cause problems such as job losses when companies move work to other countries. It can also increase pollution if goods are shipped long distances or if factories do not follow strong environmental rules. - 5
Look at the supply chain: cacao beans grown in Ghana, chocolate made in Belgium, packaging printed in Germany, and candy bars sold in Canada. What role does each country play in the supply chain?
A supply chain includes the steps needed to make and sell a product.
Ghana supplies the cacao beans, Belgium turns the cacao into chocolate, Germany provides the printed packaging, and Canada is where the candy bars are sold to consumers. - 6
Explain how the internet has made globalization faster.
The internet has made globalization faster by allowing people, businesses, and governments to communicate instantly across long distances. It also makes it easier to buy products, share ideas, learn about other cultures, and work with people in different countries. - 7
A student in Mexico watches a Korean music video, uses a Japanese video game console, and chats online with a friend in Kenya. Identify two types of globalization shown in this example.
Think about culture, technology, trade, and communication.
This example shows cultural globalization because music and games from other countries are being shared. It also shows technological globalization because the student uses online communication to connect with someone far away. - 8
What is cultural diffusion? Give one example connected to globalization.
Cultural diffusion is the spread of ideas, customs, foods, languages, music, or traditions from one place to another. An example is sushi becoming popular in countries outside Japan. - 9
Study this situation: A company closes a factory in one country and opens a new factory in another country where wages are lower. Explain one possible benefit and one possible harm of this decision.
Consider the company, workers, and consumers.
One possible benefit is that the company may lower production costs and sell products at lower prices. One possible harm is that workers in the first country may lose their jobs, while workers in the second country may face low wages or difficult working conditions. - 10
A cargo ship carries electronics from East Asia to Europe. Explain how transportation technology supports globalization.
Transportation technology supports globalization by helping goods move across oceans and continents more quickly and efficiently. Ships, airplanes, trains, and trucks allow companies to buy, make, and sell products in many parts of the world. - 11
Describe one way globalization can affect the environment.
Think about energy use, pollution, and natural resources.
Globalization can affect the environment by increasing pollution from factories, ships, trucks, and airplanes that produce and transport goods. It can also lead to more use of natural resources when demand for products grows. - 12
A local grocery store sells bananas from Ecuador, coffee from Ethiopia, rice from Thailand, and apples grown nearby. What does this show about global and local connections?
This shows that people can buy both global and local products in the same place. The store is connected to farmers and businesses around the world, while it also supports producers in the local area. - 13
Explain why countries trade with each other instead of making every product on their own.
Think about resources, climate, skills, and costs.
Countries trade because they have different resources, climates, skills, technologies, and costs of production. Trading allows countries to get goods they cannot easily make themselves and to sell products they can produce well. - 14
In a short paragraph, explain how globalization can change a local culture. Include both a positive and a negative possibility.
Globalization can change a local culture by bringing in new foods, music, clothing, languages, and ideas. A positive possibility is that people learn about and enjoy different cultures. A negative possibility is that local traditions may become less common if global brands and media become too dominant. - 15
Create a cause-and-effect statement using these words: global trade, jobs, prices, and choices.
Use the words to show how one change can lead to several results.
A strong cause-and-effect statement could be: Global trade can create jobs in countries that produce goods, lower prices for some consumers, and give people more choices when they shop.