All Activities
Geography

Fair Trade or Not?

Overview

Students explore the journey of a product from producer to consumer and discuss who benefits.

Learning Objective
Students understand why trade relationships are often unequal and what fair trade means.

Resources needed

  • None

Lesson stages

0 / 7 done
  1. 1 Choose a product (e.g. chocolate, coffee, banana).
  2. 2 Trace it from farmer to shop.
  3. 3 Discuss how much each person earns at each stage.
  4. 4 Ask: is this fair? Who benefits most?
  5. 5 Introduce the concept of fair trade.
  6. 6 Discuss whether fair trade solves the problem.
  7. 7 Share views.

Tap a step to mark it as done.

Variations

  • Role-play as farmer, processor, transporter, and supermarket.
  • Calculate how much the farmer earns per chocolate bar.
More information

Teach producer, consumer, profit, fair trade, supply chain.

Use a simple three-stage chain: farmer, factory, shop.

Can students explain why a farmer may earn very little from a product that sells for a high price?

Entirely discussion-based. No materials needed.

Students often assume fair trade fixes all problems. Discuss that it helps but doesn't address the entire system.

Connects to development, globalisation, and economic geography.

Activity details
Secondary Medium 20 minutes no prep Small Group Indoor & Outdoor
Topics
Trade Development Globalisation