Personal Finance · Weeks 28-36

Credit Scores and Reports

How credit is measured, the factors influencing credit scores, and accessing credit reports.

About This Topic

This topic explores Globalization, the increasing integration of world economies through trade, technology, and the migration of labor. Students analyze the 'pros' (lower prices, cultural exchange, poverty reduction) and 'cons' (outsourcing of manufacturing, loss of local culture, environmental impact). They also examine the 'Offshoring' of American jobs and how the US can remain competitive in a globalized labor market.

For 12th graders, this is a lesson in the world they are inheriting. It explains why their career path might look different than their grandparents'. This topic comes alive when students can physically model the patterns of global production by 'tracking' the origins of their own belongings and debating the future of the 'American Dream' in a globalized world.

Active Learning Ideas

Inquiry Circle: The 'Made In' Audit

Students check the labels on their clothes, shoes, and phones. They plot the origins on a world map and research the 'Minimum Wage' in those countries, discussing why the company chose to produce there.

⏱ 45 min·Small Groups

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Formal Debate: Outsourcing vs. Insourcing

Students debate whether the government should penalize companies that move jobs overseas or if 'Offshoring' is a necessary part of keeping American companies profitable and competitive.

⏱ 40 min·Pairs

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Think-Pair-Share: The 'Race to the Bottom'

Students discuss the theory that globalization forces countries to lower their environmental and labor standards to attract business. They brainstorm ways that international agreements could prevent this 'race.'

⏱ 30 min·Pairs

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Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

Globalization is a new phenomenon from the 1990s.

What to Teach Instead

Globalization has been happening for centuries (e.g., the Silk Road, the Age of Exploration). Peer-led 'History of Trade' timelines help students see that the *speed* and *scale* have changed, but the process is ancient.

Common Misconception

Outsourcing only hurts the American economy.

What to Teach Instead

While it hurts specific workers, it lowers prices for all consumers and allows US companies to spend more on 'high-value' jobs like R&D. Peer discussion about 'Creative Destruction' helps students see the complex trade-offs involved.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is 'Offshoring'?

It is the practice of moving a business process (like manufacturing or customer service) to a foreign country, usually to take advantage of lower labor costs or less stringent regulations.

How has globalization affected global poverty?

Most economists agree that globalization has helped lift hundreds of millions of people out of extreme poverty, especially in East Asia, by providing jobs in export-oriented industries and increasing access to global markets.

How can active learning help students understand globalization?

Globalization can feel like an abstract 'force.' Active learning, like the 'Made In' audit, makes it personal. When a student realizes their entire outfit was made in five different countries, they stop seeing globalization as a 'policy' and start seeing it as the 'infrastructure' of their daily life. This makes the subsequent political debates much more grounded in reality.

What is 'Interdependence'?

It is a situation where nations rely on each other for goods, services, and resources. Many political scientists argue that this makes war less likely, as conflict would be economically devastating for all sides.

Browse curriculum by country

• Americas
• US
• CA
• MX
• CL
• CO
• BR

• Europe
• UK
• IE
• FR
• DE
• ES
• IT
• NL
• PT
• SE

• Asia & Pacific
• IN
• SG
• AU