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Case studies on careers in international trade—middle school

Carla Anderson: Manufacturing Across Cultures

Students help Mitsubishi Aerospace employee Carla Anderson convince an American airline to work with a Japanese airplane seat manufacturer and learn how geography and culture affect business dealings. Lesson plan uses five themes of geography. Two written assignments provided.

Career Pathway: Business & Management
Subject Area: Geography
EALRs:
Geography 2.3, 3.3
Writing 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.4
Communication 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 3.1, 3.2, 4.4

Download student copy: mst-anderson-std.rtf (16kb RTF)
Download teacher copy: mst-anderson-tch.rtf (50kb RTF)

Marcha Choe: The Global/Local Balance

Students help Seattle City Councilmember Martha Choe research and evaluate the proposed Multilateral Agreement on Investments and make a decision about how Seattle City Government should react to this proposed world trade agreement. Students explore the economic and political implications when world trade rules affect local jurisdictions. Case study includes a persuasive writing exercise as well as several optional research assignments.

Career Pathway: Business & Management
Subject Area: Social Studies/Economics
EALRs:
Economics 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5
Communication 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 3.1, 3.2, 4.4
Writing 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.4
Mathematics 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3

Download student copy: mst-choe-std.rtf (12kb RTF)
Download teacher copy: mst-choe-tch.rtf (43kb RTF)

Jim Dawson: A Chinese Garden in Seattle

Students help architect Jim Dawson as he prepares to design a Chinese-style garden for a Seattle client. Students practice conducting research, then summarize information about Chinese garden structure and style into a written memo. During an optional second session, students prepare an artistic representation of a traditional Chinese garden based on their own research.

Career Pathway: Arts & Communications
Subject Area: Writing, Arts
EALRs:
Writing 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.4
Communication 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 3.1, 3.2, 4.4
Social Studies/Arts 1.5, 3.1, 3.3, 4.4

Download student copy: mst-dawson-std.rtf (18kb RTF)
Download teacher copy: mst-dawson-tch.rtf (16kb RTF)

Mic Dinsmore: The Fast Corridor

Students help Port of Seattle Executive Director Mic Dinsmore as he seeks to overcome a century-old rivalry with a neighboring port to solve a pressing regional problem. Students discuss the role of competition, and review guidelines for good communications and negotiations in the workplace. Lesson plan includes two suggested written assignments and a group communication exercise.

Career Pathway: Business & Management
Subject Area: Social Studies/Communication
EALRs:
Communication 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 3.1, 3.3, 4.2, 4.4
Writing 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.4

Download student copy: mst-dinsmore-std.doc (17KB MS Word)
Download teacher copy: mst-dismore-tch.doc (44KB MS Word)

Bob Fukano: Assuring Quality

Students help Mitsubishi employee Bob Fukano work with a supplier of paperboard and a Japanese customer who will use the paperboard for milk cartons, but has been dissatisfied with quality of previous orders from another manufacturer. Case study focuses on the communication of technical information. Two written assignments included.

Career Pathway: Business & Management
Subject Area: Communication
EALRs:
Writing 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.4
Communication 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 3.1, 3.3, 4.2, 4.4

Download student copy: mst-fukano-std.rtf (19KB RTF)
Download teacher copy: mst-fukano-tch.rtf (38KB RTF)

Larry Hansen and the ILWU: Unloading the APL China

Students help International Longshore & Warehouse Union (ILWU) Local #19 President Larry Hansen and his coworkers determine how best to unload a container ship that has been badly damaged in a typhoon. In the process, students learn about the history of labor unions and the ILWU. Case study includes a short persuasive writing exercise as well as the choice of three history research and writing projects.

Career Pathway: Engineering, Industry & Science
Subject Area: History
EALRs:
History 1.2, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3
Communication 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 3.1, 3.2, 4.4
Writing 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.4

Download student copy: mst-hansenl-std.rtf (16KB RTF)
Download teacher copy: mst-hansenl-tch.rtf (39KB RTF)

Terry Hansen: Sending Hay around the World

Students help A.C.X. Trading Company employee Terry Hansen strategize about and then calculate the rebate due a customer for a load of hay, which was shipped to Japan. Students then calculate percentages, create two different types of graphs to illustrate their calculations, and then write a short memo explaining their calculations.

Career Pathway: Business & Management
Subject Area: Mathematics
EALRs:
Mathematics 1.1, 1.4, 2.1, 2.3, 3.1, 4.1, 5.3
Communication 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 3.1, 3.2, 4.4
Writing 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.4

Download student copy: mst-hansent-std.rtf (17KB RTF)
Download teacher copy: mst-hansent-tch.rtf (194KB RTF)

John Korvell: Managing Logistics in Cosmopolis

Students help Weyerhaeuser pulp mill logistics manager John Korvell build a flow chart to determine whether he can meet a potential customer’s price requirements. Case study provides an introduction to the concept and nomenclature of flow charting and includes a flow charting assignment.

Career Pathway: Business & Management
Subject Area: Mathematics
EALRs:
Economics 1.1, 1.2, 1.5
Mathematics 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 5.2, 5.3
Writing 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.4

Download student copy: mst-korvell-std.rtf (27KB RTF)
Download teacher copy: mst-korvell-tch.rtf (39KB RTF)

Fred Pasquale: Shipping Paper

Students help Port Townsend Paper Company’s Transportation Manager Fred Pasquale calculate the costs of different shipping options when his paper mill runs out of storage space. Students demonstrate their ability to understand mathematical content in context and to calculate a multistep, non-routine problem. Lesson plan includes two student math worksheets and a persuasive writing exercise, written in the form of a business briefing paper.

Career Pathway: Business & Management
Subject Area: Mathematics
EALRs:
Mathematics 1.1, 1.4, 2.1, 2.3, 3.1, 4.1, 5.3
Writing 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.4
Communication 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 3.1, 3.2, 4.4

Download student copy: mst-pasquale-std.rtf (13KB RTF)
Download teacher copy: mst-pasquale-tch.rtf (42KB RTF)

Margaret Schimke: Marketing Apples in Taiwan

Students learn basic research skills—how to determine what information they need, how to find it, and how to use it—as they help APL employee Margaret Schimke develop a marketing plan to ship more Washington state apples to Taiwan. Includes group oral presentation exercise and individual written assignment.

Career Pathway: Business & Management
Subject Area: Social Studies
EALRs:
Economics 1.1, 1.2, 1.5
Writing 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.4
Communication 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 3.1, 3.2, 4.4

Download student copy: mst-schimke-std.rtf (17KB RTF)
Download teacher copy: mst-schimke-tch.rtf (39KB RTF)

Morikatsu Shiroishi: The Asian Economic Crisis

Students help Mitsubishi employee Morikatsu (Mark) Shiroishi understand the Asian economic crisis as he attempts to sell Washington state frozen vegetables to Japanese customers during the economic crisis. Teaching notes include complete chronology, discussion guide, and frequently asked questions about the Asian economic crisis. Two written assignments included.

Career Pathway: Business & Management
Subject Area: Economics
EALRs:
Economics 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5
Mathematics 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3
Writing 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.4
Communication 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 3.1, 3.2, 4.4

Download student copy: mst-shiroishi-std.rtf (19KB RTF)
Download teacher copy: mst-shiroishi-tch.rtf (45KB RTF)

Masushi Shoda: Worldwide Competitiveness

Students help Mitsubishi employee Masushi (Mac) Shoda as he markets Washington and Alaska wild salmon to Japan at a time when farmed salmon is becoming both more plentiful and less expensive. Students must read technical and non-technical documents, gleaning information from an attached set of charts, graphs, and excerpts from reports and newspaper articles to write a one-page written assignment. Answer key included.

Career Pathway: Business & Management
Subject Area: Reading, Science
EALRs:
Reading 1.1, 1.3, 1.5, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 3.1, 3.2, 3.4, 4.3
Science 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 5.4
Communication 1.2, 2.1
Writing 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.4

Download student copy: mst-shoda-std.rtf (128KB RTF)
Download teacher copy: mst-shoda-tch.rtf (156KB RTF)

Scott Smith: Trade Hitchhikers

Students work with Washington State’s Aquatic Nuisance Species Coordinator Scott Smith to learn about the invasive species coming to Washington State. They explore potential solutions to the problem of species that travel in the ballast water of cargo ships. An in-class paper and several longer-term homework assignments are provided.

Career Pathway: Engineering, Industry & Science
Subject Area: Science/Communications
EALRs:
Science: 2.1, 3.1, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 5.4
Communication: 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 3.1, 3.2, 4.4
Writing: 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.4

Download student copy: mst-smith-std.rtf (19KB RTF)
Download teacher copy: mst-smith-tch.rtf (41KB RTF)

Liz Thomas: Learning to Trade

Students help King County Office of Trade Director Liz Thomas analyze the trade-related needs of small business and explore the relevant role for a local government in international trade. In the process, students learn more about King County’s history of trading and about current trade-related business conditions. Case study includes an in-class written exercise which students complete in a business format.

Career Pathway: Business & Management
Subject Area: Social Studies
EALRs:
Communication 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 3.1, 3.2, 4.4
Writing 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.4
Economics 1.1, 1.2, 1.5

Download student copy: mst-thomas-std.rtf (21KB RTF)
Download teacher copy: mst-thomas-tch.rtf (55KB RTF)

Last update: November 19, 2007

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