Lesson 1 Student Handout

Discussion leader ________________

 

Recorder _______________________

 

Reporter _______________________

 

Mapper _______________________

 

1. Check the tags on all group members’ outer clothing (if they are easily accessible!) and record the countries in which they were produced.

Names:
Item:	Where your clothes were made:
Pants
Skirt or dress
Jacket or sweater
Sweatshirt
Shirt or blouse
Socks
Shoes
Watch
Glasses or shades
Hat
Jewelry
Other

2. Is anyone wearing All (everything !) American clothes? Names:

3. Is anyone wearing No (nothing, zip, zero, nada) American clothes? Names:

4. Mapper – Mark all the countries on your list with a stickie or pushpin on the wall map. Record the names of any students wearing All American clothing or No American clothing in the lists on the board.

5. Discuss the following questions in your group:

• If you are wearing foreign-made clothing, why are you doing so? (What incentive(s) encouraged you to buy foreign-made clothes instead of American clothing?)
• By purchasing foreign-made clothing, you are taking part in international trade; you’re importing. What’s the opportunity cost of wearing a foreign-made shirt or other article of clothing?
  • Why are you willing to bear that opportunity cost?
• Why are there so few people wearing all American-made clothing?
  • If you are one of the people who is wearing all American clothing, why are you doing so? (What incentive(s) encouraged you to buy only American clothes?)
• What is the opportunity cost of purchasing American clothing?
  • Why are so few Americans willing to bear that cost?
• Explain, in one sentence that includes the term “opportunity cost,” why so many Americans wear foreign-made clothing.
• Suppose the United States decided to discontinue ALL international trade. Based on your observations about clothing, propose a generalization about the opportunity cost of not trading.