New collection of free online teaching resources

Trade Aid is excited to present a new collection of free online innovative and inspiring teaching resources.  
The resource supports teachers and students to explore the economic world, and trade in particular. It takes a concept and issues-based approach, using critical thinking and actions to consider people’s participation in trade relationships, and the challenges of economic disparity.  View these resources here>

Overview
This resource supports teachers and students to explore the economic world, and trade in particular. It takes a concept and issues-based approach to considering people’s participation in trade relationships, and the challenges of economic disparity. This resource does not suggest that Trade Aid’s work is the only option. Instead, the content and activities emphasise critical thinking and students’ ability to assess media messages. Most importantly, the resources offer practical ideas for students’ social action.

Interconnected materials
The inter-connected materials and learning experiences in this resource have the purpose of developing deeper and more critical knowledge about issues concerning trade that affect us individually, as communities, as a country and the world. Trade Aid aims to present a balanced view of issues concerning trade in order to encourage critical thinking and allow students to reach their own conclusions.

Fair trade is an alternative to current trading practices and this resource provides opportunities to explore this form of trading. Throughout this resource, Trade Aid is featured as one of many businesses that support producers in developing countries by making ethical business decisions. Other businesses with different trade practices are also featured in this resource in order to open up discussion about trade alternatives and ethical decision-making, particularly as they apply to young people’s lives and communities.

Who made this?
The resource has been developed by Rachel Tallon of Right Place Resources in response to requests from teachers working across the social sciences learning area. The advisory panel for this resource included Marinda Matthew and Michelia Miles of Trade Aid and Andrea Milligan of Victoria University of Wellington. We are grateful to the many social studies’ and economics’ teachers who provided valuable feedback on this resource during its development.

Trade Aid speakers available
The curriculum resources are the main tool for teaching about Trade Justice. Once you and your students have gained foundational knowledge through the resources, having a Trade Aid speaker come to your school can be a great complement to teaching fair trade in the classroom. Trade Aid educators can answer students’ questions about fair trade and also bring products to illustrate the work of the producers Trade Aid works with. You can request an educator here>

What teachers say:
“I like the concept focus and the focus on critical thinking.  In particular I like the inclusion of Socratic frameworks for learning and discussion. I also like the categories – critical thinking, concepts, actions and issues – this is clear and easy to follow. The contemporary nature of some of the topics is awesome too; the linkages are very straightforward and the website links were easy and logical to follow.” – Sally Beccard, Wellington Girls College

“Useful and interesting and a good reminder to include more student focused activities and promote critical thinking of issues. The students enjoyed the ethical fashion report and conversations around this and are much more aware and interested in products they purchase and use now. There were many comments on the disadvantages of globalisation and good things about fair trade.” – Joy Butler and Elizabeth Wright, St Orans’ College

“Navigation was very easy, intuitive. I was excited about the activity I trialled.” – Ricky Prebble, Wellington East Girls’ College

“Overall a high quality resource pack with the ability to pick and choose a selection of resources to suit a learning programme. The Weebly is easy to navigate and download resources from. It’s good that they are available on-line and able to be used for students with BYOD as well as print resources. I like the focus on key concepts and the teacher support materials that support essential skills e.g. critical literacy and thinking.” – Tonia Calverley, King’s High School

We hope you find these resources inspiring, innovative and easy to use in your classrooms. We welcome your feedback so that we can adapt these resources as needed and make them an even more valuable tool for your teaching on the issues surrounding trade justice. Please send feedback to: education@tradeaid.org.nz