Active learning ideas
International Trade is vital for a small, open economy like Ireland. This topic introduces students to the concepts of imports and exports, and the reasons why nations trade, such as the lack of natural resources or the need for specialized skills. Students explore Ireland's key trading partners, including the UK, USA, and EU members, and identify our major export sectors like pharmaceuticals, agri-food, and technology. This aligns with Strand 3: Our Economy, focusing on Ireland's place in the global market.
Activity 01
Assign groups different 'resources' (paper, scissors, rulers) and a 'product' to manufacture. Some groups will have plenty of resources but no tools, while others have tools but no resources, forcing them to trade to succeed.
Why does Ireland need to import goods?
Activity 02
Students research and create posters for iconic Irish exporters (e.g., Kerrygold, Ryanair, or Stripe). They display these around the room, and peers use a checklist to identify which sector each business belongs to.
What are Ireland's main export industries?
Activity 03
Provide a scenario where the Euro strengthens against the Dollar. Students work in pairs to predict if this is good or bad news for an Irish company selling cheese to New York and an Irish person buying a laptop from a US website.
How do exchange rates affect international trade?
A few notes on teaching this unit
Watch Out for These Misconceptions
Students often think that a country should try to export everything and import nothing.
Explain the concept of 'comparative advantage' and the reality that no country has all the resources it needs. A collaborative investigation into the components of a smartphone shows how many countries must cooperate to create a single product.
There is a common belief that trade only involves physical goods.
Highlight the massive importance of 'invisible' trade (services) to the Irish economy, such as software development and financial services. Peer teaching sessions where students explain different service exports help reinforce this.
Methods used in this brief