MNN - Mother Nature Network

 

These are the questions asked of students that participate in Global Exchange's Fair Trade cocoa curriculum. Thus far, nearly 3,300 students in 127 classrooms in 29 states across the U.S. have participated in the program. Developed by teachers and teaching students, the curriculum includes nine interactive lesson plans that aim to teach students about fair trade and that they have the power to affect global change through their purchasing decisions.

 

Here's how it works: The first lesson begins with a blind taste teste during which students can taste both fair trade and non-fair trade chocolates to discover their preferences. Kids then read a story about fair trade chocolate and research the actual price for each of the bars tasted. The lesson ends with a discussion about which chocolate bar each student would buy and why.

 

Subsequent lessons in the fair trade cocoa curriculum ask students to contemplate fairness, role-play as a farmer trying to afford basic human needs, brainstorm ways to support fair trade, and create an action plan for promoting fair trade goods.

 

Know a teacher who might be interested? Spread the word about fair trade.

 

Photo courtesy of Global Exchange