Part 1: Read and Build Vocabulary

What Is Globalization?

Globalization means that people and places around the world are becoming more connected. These connections involve products, money, ideas, information, technology, and people.

Think about a smartphone. Its raw materials, such as metals and minerals, may come from several countries. Workers in another place may make parts or assemble the phone. Companies transport the phone through global trade, which means buying and selling goods between places. It may then be sold in a shop or online. A consumer uses it to communicate with people in other countries.

This example shows interdependence. Interdependence means that people and places rely on one another. A factory may rely on materials from another country. A business may rely on customers around the world. A worker may rely on international companies for employment.

Globalization also affects culture, or the beliefs, traditions, languages, music, and ways of life shared by a group. Migration, the movement of people to a new place, can connect cultures. Technology makes these connections faster. Globalization can create benefits, such as more choices and jobs, but it can also create challenges, such as unfair working conditions or pressure on local cultures.

Follow One Product’s Global Journey

🌍 Raw materials ⟶ 👷 Factory workers ⟶ 🚢 Transport and trade ⟶ 🏪 Shop or online store ⟶ 👤 Consumer

Different people and places are connected at every stage.

Vocabulary Bank

globalization: increasing connections among people and places

interdependence: relying on one another

trade: buying and selling goods or services

culture: shared beliefs, traditions, language, and ways of life

migration: movement from one place to another

economy: the system of making, selling, and using goods and services

benefit: a positive result or advantage

challenge: a difficulty or problem

Vocabulary Matching

Match each term with the correct definition. Write the letter beside each number.

Part 2: Understand Global Connections

Sentence starter: Globalization can affect culture or people by...

Sentence starter: One group may benefit because..., while another group may face...

Part 3: Trace a Global Connection

Choose one: smartphone, food product, clothing item, or digital message. Identify at least three connected people, places, or processes. Then describe one benefit and one challenge. You may use labelled arrows or dot points.

My choice: __________________________________________

Connected people, places, or processes:

One possible benefit:

One possible challenge:

Sentence starters: This item connects... / A benefit is... / A challenge is... / The effects may be different for...

Exit Ticket

Answer Key

Vocabulary: 1-B, 2-D, 3-E, 4-A, 5-C.

6. A smartphone connects materials, workers, businesses, and users in different places.

7. Different people and places rely on one another.

8. More access to products, ideas, and jobs.

9–11. Answers will vary. Strong answers identify a clear global connection, use accurate vocabulary, and explain a benefit, challenge, or different perspective. For Question 10, students should explain that groups may experience different outcomes, such as businesses gaining customers while workers face difficult conditions.