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Globalization: An Interconnected World

Students explore globalization — the deepening connection of the world’s economies, technologies, cultures, and peoples — weighing its remarkable benefits against its serious challenges, and their role as citizens of an interconnected world.

Grade 9Modern World55 minutes1 class periodC3 InquiryExplicit teaching4 StandardsC3 + CCSS
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Lesson at a Glance

Everything you need before the bell rings

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to…

  • ✓Define globalization.
  • ✓Explain economic and cultural interconnection.
  • ✓Analyze its benefits and challenges.
  • ✓Explain shared global challenges.
Essential Question

Your phone was designed on one continent, built on another, and connects you instantly to people worldwide. How did the world become so deeply interconnected — and what does that mean?

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Lesson Phases
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Vocabulary Terms
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Standards Aligned
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Interactive Task
Globalization Explorer · Interactive

The Globalization Explorer

Project this and tap each dimension of globalization. Have students weigh the benefits and the challenges of an interconnected world.

🌐 Explore globalization — tap each dimensionTry it

The Lesson · C3 Inquiry Arc (Question · Investigate · Conclude)

55 minutes, five moves

Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.

1

Compelling Question — One Connected World

5 min

Your phone links continents — how did the world get so connected?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Trace a product’s global journey.
  • Ask how this happened.
  • Pose the question.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Trace the product.
  • Wonder how.
  • Predict the idea.
2

Investigate — Explore the Dimensions

12 min

Students investigate.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Send students to the Globalization Explorer.
  • Record each dimension.
  • Note benefits and challenges.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Tap each one.
  • Record it.
  • Note both sides.
3

Analyze — Connected in Many Ways

13 min

Students analyze.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Explain economic globalization.
  • Explain cultural and tech connection.
  • Explain shared global challenges.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Explain the economy.
  • Explain culture/tech.
  • Explain challenges.
4

Draw Conclusions — Draw Conclusions

15 min

Students conclude.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Weigh benefits vs. costs.
  • Consider winners and losers.
  • Support with evidence.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Weigh pros/cons.
  • Consider impacts.
  • Use evidence.
5

Take Informed Action — Global Citizen

5 min

Students take action.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Explain a global challenge to address.
  • Propose one cooperative action.
  • Hand out the exit ticket.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Name a challenge.
  • Propose an action.
  • Complete the exit ticket.
Standards Alignment

Built to the standards you report on

Aligned to the C3 Framework for Social Studies (Grades 9–12) and Common Core literacy in history/social studies.

C3
D2.Geo.11.9-12

Evaluate how economic globalization affects the location of economic activities.

C3
D2.Eco.15.9-12

Analyze how globalization affects national and global economies.

C3
D2.Geo.7.9-12

Analyze the diffusion of ideas and their influence on current conditions.

CCSS
RH.9-10.7

Integrate quantitative or technical analysis with qualitative analysis.

Differentiation

One lesson, every learner

Multilingual Learners

ELL / EMERGING READERS
  • Dimension picture cards.
  • Sentence frame: “Globalization connects ___ and ___.”
  • Map a product’s journey.

Support & Access

IEP / 504
  • Focus on trade and technology.
  • Use concrete examples.
  • Weigh one benefit, one cost.

Stretch & Extend

GIFTED / EARLY FINISHERS
  • Debate the pros and cons of globalization.
  • Research a global supply chain.
  • Propose a solution to a global challenge.
Materials

What to gather

  • 📽️Projector / board
  • 📓Notebooks
  • 💻The Globalization Explorer
  • 🗺️A world map
  • ✏️Pencils
  • 🎫Exit-ticket slips
Vocabulary

Key terms — hover for a quick definition

globalizationthe growing interconnection of the worldinterconnectionbeing linked togethersupply chainthe network that makes and delivers a productcultural exchangethe sharing of culturesmigrationthe movement of peopleinterdependencemutual reliance between nationsmultinationaloperating in many countriescooperationworking together
Evaluate

Exit Ticket

Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.

QUESTION 1
What is globalization?
The deepening interconnection of the world’s economies, cultures, technologies, and peoples.
QUESTION 2
Name one benefit and one challenge of globalization.
Benefit: cheaper goods, shared ideas, or global cooperation. Challenge: loss of local jobs/culture, inequality, or shared problems like climate change.
QUESTION 3
Why do global challenges like climate change require cooperation?
Because in an interconnected world, such problems cross borders and no single nation can solve them alone.

Going deeper? Debate globalization.

Have students debate whether globalization does more good or harm, using evidence about trade, culture, jobs, and the environment. A printable debate organizer is in the Social Studies library.

Study · Flashcards

Study the key terms

Tap a card to flip it, then rate whether you knew it. Built from this lesson’s vocabulary.

🃏 GlobalizationFlip
Card 1
Term
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Meaning
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Practice · Quiz

Check your understanding

A quick self-check with instant feedback, drawn from this lesson’s key terms.

📝 GlobalizationQuiz
Score: 0
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Question 1
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Practice · Worksheet

Printable worksheet

A print-and-go review sheet with a built-in answer key. Tap “Show answer key” to reveal answers, or print the clean version for students.

🖨️ GlobalizationPrint
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________

Part A · Write the word that matches each meaning

Word bank: cooperation, cultural exchange, globalization, interconnection, interdependence, migration, multinational, supply chain
  1. working together
  2. operating in many countries
  3. the sharing of cultures
  4. the movement of people
  5. the growing interconnection of the world
  6. the network that makes and delivers a product
  7. mutual reliance between nations
  8. being linked together

Part B · Show what you learned

  1. What is globalization?
  2. Name one benefit and one challenge of globalization.
  3. Why do global challenges like climate change require cooperation?
Answer key — Part A: 1) cooperation · 2) multinational · 3) cultural exchange · 4) migration · 5) globalization · 6) supply chain · 7) interdependence · 8) interconnection
Part B: 1) The deepening interconnection of the world’s economies, cultures, technologies, and peoples. 2) Benefit: cheaper goods, shared ideas, or global cooperation. Challenge: loss of local jobs/culture, inequality, or shared problems like climate change. 3) Because in an interconnected world, such problems cross borders and no single nation can solve them alone.