Title: The Beanstalk Barter

Grade: 2nd

Subject: Economics

Designer: Sara Cummings

Stage 1 Desired Results

Established Goals: SOL 2.8The student will distinguish between the use
of barter and the use of money in the exchange for goods and services.
Understandings:
Essential Understanding: Bartering can
be used in exchange for goods and
-Bartering is similar to money in services.
exchange for good and services
however, it is less common.
Essential Questions:
-Students barter every day in
school, with friends, and at
home.
-Jack and the Beanstalk is a
bartering story.

-What is bartered in Jack and the

Beanstalk?
-How do you know it was bartered?
-Do you barter things in class? With
your friends? Family?
-What types of things do you barter?

Students will know

Students will be able to
-Key Terms: Barter, Trade, Swap
-How they barter in their own
-Barter items they have in exchange for
lives
goods and services
-How bartering is different than
-Know key terms: Barter, Trade, Swap
money exchange (end of the
lesson before we move into the
money lesson)
Stage 2 Assessment Evidence
Performance Tasks:
Other Evidence:
-Teacher mentors and watches the barter
Barter Party!Students use their
party to make sure students understand.
talents (singing, dancing, helping
-Students will discuss what they bartered and
with homework) in exchange for
why it was considered bartering.
candy, pencils, coupons, etc.
Stage 3 Learning Plan
Learning Activities:
1) Introduce the kids to bartering by reading Jack and the Beanstalk; put emphasis
on the bartering that happened between the cow for the 3 magic beans. (~10-15
minutes)
2) Introduce the term bartering and ask the students if they have used bartering
before. Have they ever traded a cow for magic beans? How about a piece of candy
for help with a homework problem? (~5-10 minutes)
3) Give students 10-15 minutes to brainstorm talents they might have (i.e. singing,
dancing, quick help on previous lessons, etc.). These must be quick and easy to do.
4) Students will each receive a bag of bartering items that contain pencils, small
pieces of candy, coupons, etc. STUDENTS WILL WRITE THEIR NAMES ON THEIR
BAGS BEFORE BARTERING! (~5 minutes)
5) Barter Party! Students will walk around the room and either barter the items in
their barter bags for the talents of their classmates or they can barter items in their
barter bags for another classmates items in their barter bag. (~30-45 minutes)
6) At the end of the barter party, students will gather (most likely on the rug) and

discuss what they bartered and what they ended up with. Ask why it was considered
bartering. Tell students how bartering was used as money and currency in history
and begin to lead them into money exchange used in our present day economy.