How does a product like a backpack or a cup of coffee make its way to our hands? Where do the raw materials come from, and how are they transported to consumers? These and many more questions were recently tackled by students in the 9th Grade Global Perspectives course.

 

In this supply chain group project, new social studies teacher Erin Cantos designed a complex assessment that asked students to look carefully at the way things are made and by whom, how they are transported, and just how transparent companies are about the whole process. A quick Wikipedia definition shows that a “supply chain is the network of all the individuals, organizations, resources, activities and technology involved in the creation and sale of a product, from the delivery of source materials from the supplier to the manufacturer, through to its eventual delivery to the end user.” Students were assigned one of six products* and then asked to consider the following:

 

 

Obviously, this project required extensive research on the students’ part, and most of them even ended up in direct communication with the companies involved – via e-mail or phone call. All of their information was compiled into a slideshow that they had to present to the class. Their final slide needed to include the three most important takeaways they had learned from doing the project.

 

I and a few other Upper School teachers were invited to watch the presentations, and we were all impressed with the depth of the learning. Students also got to practice collaboration skills in their groups and of course had to rely on their presentation skills in the end. This assessment also expanded their knowledge of geography (all of the products had a wide reach) and taught them some essentials of global business practices. In all, a great way to expand their knowledge and encourage their growth as global citizens!