Silent Barter and Trade Simulation: West Africa Edition!

Have fun with an unforgettable learning experience with the Silent Barter and Trade Simulation: West Africa Edition! This economic simulation is designed specifically for teachers who want to engage their students in an interactive learning experience that not only teaches about the history of West Africa, but also provides students with practical skills in teamwork, budgeting, and strategy.

During the simulation, students will be divided into teams and challenged to silently trade along the banks of the Niger River that will divide the classroom in 5 interactive rounds! This unique approach to bartering will require students to rely on their strategy created within their team between silent trading rounds as they review their budget spreadsheets while adjusting their resources accordingly.

The simulation kicks off with each team receiving their unique set of resources along with a team resource card that indicates how many of which resources they need in order to win the round. In addition, students are provided with a budgetary spreadsheet that they must collaboratively fill out before each round to ensure a sound strategy regarding their resources and maximizing their chances of success.

Throughout this simulation, students will learn about the rich history of West African trade and how it shaped the region's economy and culture. They will also gain valuable skills in budgeting and strategy that they can use in their future daily lives. Lastly, students are provided reflection questions that allow opportunities to connect the simulation with the unit’s key curricular content and themes.