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K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

Careers in travel: Working with currency exchange

In this lesson for grades six and seven, students will learn about foreign currency exchange rates and will understand the importance of currency exchange in the travel industry.

A lesson plan for grades 6–7 Social Studies

By Mandy Matlock

Provided by CareerStart

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CareerStart lessons: Grade six
This collection of lessons aligns the sixth grade curriculum in math, science, English language arts, and social studies with potential career opportunities.
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  • Resources of South America: In this lesson for grades six and seven, students will research the resources of a South American country and will create a map illustrating those resources.

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Learning outcomes

  • Students will learn the value of currency in other countries in the world and the importance of knowing how to exchange currency.
  • Students will recognize the importance of understanding currency rates in the travel industry.

Teacher planning

Materials needed

Time required for lesson

One class period

Procedure

  1. Introduce the concept of the Euro to the students. Read to them about the Euro from the European Commission for Economic and Financial Affairs’ website, which provides a good background. (Alternatively, you may use a textbook or other authoritative source.) Ask if anyone has traveled to another country, and allow time for students to speak about their experiences abroad. (10 minutes)
  2. Explain to the students that when they travel to a different country it is important to understand the value of the American dollar in relation to the local currency. Explain that they will be working in the travel industry in the job of their choice. Arrange the students into pairs and have them brainstorm some careers in travel. (10 minutes)
  3. Write the careers on the board as students raise their hands to give suggestions. These could include travel agent, airline employee, train employee, cruise ship employee, etc. (5 minutes)
  4. Give each student a copy of the handout and explain that they will be visiting a website that can translate currency. Have the students to go an exchange rates website. Instruct the students to begin by selecting the American dollar on the far right hand side of the screen. This will give them the information they need to fill in their worksheet. Have students continue with each currency on their page. If students finish early, instruct them to visit Rick Steve’s Europe and read about travel in Europe by clicking on the names of individual European countries. Continue to monitor students on the computers. Review answers as a class. (35 minutes)

North Carolina curriculum alignment

Social Studies (2003)

Grade 6

  • Goal 6: The learner will recognize the relationship between economic activity and the quality of life in South America and Europe.
    • Objective 6.01: Describe different levels of economic development and assess their connections to standard of living indicators such as purchasing power, literacy rate, and life expectancy.

  • North Carolina Essential Standards

    • Social Studies (2010)

      • Grade 7

        • 7.E.1 Understand the economic activities of modern societies and regions. 7.E.1.1 Explain how competition for resources affects the economic relationship among nations (e.g. colonialism, imperialism, globalization and interdependence). 7.E.1.2 Explain the...