Unit Plan 31 (PreK Social Studies): Sharing and Trading

Focus: Help children practice fair sharing and trading, work as a team, and explore how people use resources through simple market play. Children dramatize a pretend “class market,” practice asking to trade, and make group choices about how to use and share classroom materials.

Grade Level: PreK

Subject Area: Social Studies (Economics • Civics)

Total Unit Duration: 5 sessions (one week), 15–20 minutes per session

I. Introduction

In this unit, children explore what it means to share and trade fairly with classmates. Through guided play, they learn that sharing and trading help everyone get a turn, solve problems when more than one child wants the same item, and make playtime more fun. Children also notice that toys and materials are resources we all use and must take care of.

Using picture books, turn-taking games, and a simple pretend market, children practice using polite language (“Can we trade?” “Your turn, my turn.”), and experience group decision-making as they help set rules for fair exchanges. This builds early understanding of both economic ideas (sharing/trading, using resources) and civic ideas (listening, voting, cooperating).

Essential Questions

• What does it mean to share and trade with friends?
• How can we trade fairly so everyone feels good and gets a turn?
• How do we use and take care of our toys and materials (resources)?
• How can we decide together about games and choices in our classroom?

II. Objectives and Standards

Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:

1. Practice sharing and trading toys or materials using simple, polite language.
2. Participate in fair exchanges, understanding that both friends should agree and feel good about the trade.
3. Notice that toys and materials are resources that we use and must care for (put away, not break, not waste).
4. Take part in group decisions by listening to ideas, raising a hand, and voting on a shared choice.
5. Create a “Sharing and Trading at Our Market” drawing or dictation showing a fair trade or teamwork scene.

Standards Alignment — PreK (C3-based custom)

• PK.C3.Econ.4 — Share and trade with others. Practices exchanging toys or materials fairly.
  • Example: Trading puzzle pieces to complete sets.
• PK.C3.Econ.5 — Describe how people use resources. Notices how we use natural or manmade items for living.
  • Example: “We use trees to make paper.”
• PK.C3.Civ.3 — Participate in group decisions. Votes, shares ideas, and listens to others when making choices together.
  • Example: Voting on a class book or snack.

Success Criteria — Student Language

• I can share or trade toys with my friends.
• I can use kind words when I trade (“Can we trade?” “Your turn, my turn.”).
• I can say that we must take care of our toys and materials so everyone can use them.
• I can help my class decide together by listening and voting.