Barter Game School Lesson

. To capture students’ interest, show them an item they would really like to have. Examples may include a candy treat, a favorite book, a pencil, or a homework pass.

Then, tell students that you are willing to trade your item for another. Ask students to name some goods that they would be willing to exchange. Record this information on a t-chart under the category of 'Goods.' . Next, tell students that you are also willing to trade your item for a service.

Barter Game School Lesson Ideas

Ask students to list some services that can be completed in the classroom. Examples may include sharpening pencils, erasing the boards, cleaning out desks, and tidying the room. Record this information on a t-chart under the category of 'Services.'

. Refer back to the t-chart on Goods and Services. Tell students that the chart lists many goods, things that can be bought or held, and services, things that people do for others. Tell students that when people trade for goods or services it is known as bartering.

Write this term on the board. Tell students that there are plenty of goods and services that you would like to barter for, but the decision isn’t always easy.

Ask students to brainstorm some goods they would like to barter and to keep this information to themselves. After an allotted amount of time, ask students to write or draw their good on a blank sheet of paper. Tell students that they will participate in an activity called Let’s Make a Deal.

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Explain that in this activity, they must take the drawing of their good, and find a classmate to barter with. Inform the class that when they find someone to barter with, they say, “Let’s make a deal!” If a deal is agreed, the students trade pictures. If a deal is not agreed upon, students continue to seek out a barter. Demonstrate a practice round using the item shown at the beginning of the lesson, and stressing, “Let’s make a deal!” when an agreement is reached.

Explain to the class that once their original item has been bartered, they can decide to barter their new item as well.

Lesson 1: An 'ask' is a powerful thing. It is human nature to avoid uncomfortable situations. Unfortunately, the selling process is chock full of them: making an approach, starting a conversation, qualifying, proposing, asking for things.

Throughout my course, students realize that they-like most people-constantly, unconsciously, avoid asking directly for what they want. They are friendly. They are easy to deal with. They talk about the wonderful features of the pen. Those are all good instincts. But they don't put food on the table. In any situation, you must be prepared to make an ask.

'Jim, would you be willing to trade me that coffee mug for this pen?' 'Susan, how about we trade this vacuum cleaner for that iPhone?'

The thing that stops you from making a direct ask of someone is fear. And fear is normal. But the worst outcome is that the person says 'No.' When that happens, thank them and move on. Lesson 3: Create value. The barter assignment also teaches students to broaden their understanding of what constitutes value.

They have to see value where others may not. The 'value' they create with a pen (or a statue or a vacuum) depends on the context they create: the story they tell about its history; its utility; the cachet that comes from owning it; the services provided with it, and many other characteristics. Why call a pen a pen, when this supremely useful tool creates so many types of value?

Just ask Shakespeare.