Chief Kw'eh - STEM Challenge

Barter and Gift

Can you imagine what life would be like without using money? Many indigenous peoples utilized either a barter or a gift system to exchange goods. The driving force behind this type of ‘trade’ or exchange is not to create personal wealth but to be able to share it and be a provider for your people.

Prior to European contact in North America, indigenous societies had many established trade networks by trails and rivers, to trade for goods that were important for their communities to thrive. This could be practical items like grease or obsidian glass, or ceremonial items such as tobacco and abalone shells. On some occasions, metal objects were traded or gifted from coastal nations who had already encountered Europeans and their goods.

The main goal of this STEM challenge is to have participants barter something small that they can be bartered with, for something they could eventually gift to someone that is important to them.

Number of participants: 8 - 30

Materials: 

• Bartering Record Book (see printable attachment below, print double sided for 2 copies per student)

• Anything that you have on hand that is no longer useful to yourself that you think could be turned into a gift for someone else.

We suggest:

• Buttons

• Lego

• Coloured pencils

• Feathers

• Magnets

• Craft items

• Small toy

• Fancy paper

• Jewelry

• Beads

• Book

• Anything else you can think of

Phase 1 - Barter Day

Have participants bring in their barter item/s and display them on their desk for others to admire and ponder. Students can ask questions and gain knowledge about the specific items that interest them. At a given time begin the Bartering. We suggest 20 minutes for students to trade and barter their items. Each person can make up to 2 trades before the next phase.

Remind participants that it may not be possible to attain their first choice but that the challenge will continue and there may be another chance in a few days.

Have students document their Bartering in the Record Book.

Phase 2 - Upgrade/design

Individuals are given a period of time (could be overnight) to turn their trade item into something more valuable. Ie. buttons could be used as eyes on a pet rock, or fancy paper could be turned into hand-made cards. 

* Mention to participants that your influence is measured by what you are able to give away.

Phase 3 - Barter Day

Second bartering round amongst the game participants with their new and upgraded items. We suggest 20 minutes for students to trade and barter. Each person can make up to 2 trades before the next phase.

Phase 4 - External trade (optional)

Participants can be given the opportunity to Barter with someone from outside the group (friends or family members) 

Don’t forget to document these.

Phase 5 - Upgrade/Design (optional)

The final phase before giving your gift.  Take a day or two to allow participants to again upgrade their trade with simple items from home or in the classroom. It is our advice to stress that the importance here is to be creative and really think about the person you are going to gift your item to. We also like the idea of avoiding anything new or store-bought solely for this purpose. 

Have students document their upgrades in the printable Barter Record Book.

Phase 6 - Gift!

Gift your final creation to someone special in your life to let them know how much they mean to you. Participants should be encouraged to tell the story of how their gift evolved and how it began.

Host a group discussion to revisit the Challenge and talk about how it made individuals feel throughout the process. Were they excited? Discouraged? Thankful? Did their final item resemble their initial idea? Who did they gift?

This Game can be played on your own if you are not in a classroom. You will need to get creative with who you barter and trade with. You could play with other friends and family members or with people who aren’t actually a part of the game.  For example, if you have a lego person to trade, try trading with someone from your hometown. They do not need to be a prt of the next bartering phase. Once you have upgraded your new item find another person willing to trade it.  You can continue this cycle until you are happy with your item and ready to gift it. 

Haven’t got Live It yet? Click here to create your account today and get your first 2 months free!

If you’re a BC K-7 teacher, click here for your open access to Live It Earth thanks to a deal with Focused Education Resources.