Mercantilism Simulation | The Thirteen Colonies 13 Colonies

This lesson provides a fun educational simulation for students to experience trade during the age of mercantilism. The classroom interactive experience is set up so that they will see the impact of the rules created by England to limit trade, and increase profit. This has really helped my students to visualize a difficult economic concept. Students get to move around the room, trade goods, maximize their profits, and potentially smuggle! This lesson plan also includes two exit tickets to check for student understanding.

NOTE: This lesson was specifically devised to discuss the economic relationship between the English colonies and the British. Although the trade of enslaved people is discussed, it is not included as part of the trading experience. That topic is more specifically explored in a different lesson.

My students also had lots of fun, and begged for more lessons "like that trading one" for the rest of the year!

This document includes a 3-page detailed lesson plan (PDF), all the required materials for the trading simulation, and a historical background which explains all the necessary concepts.

The digital version of this lesson included interactive Google Slides to teach the same topics. The simulation portion is not included in the digital version. There simply wasn't a way to emulate the same experience in an online situation.

The lesson is linked to NYS Social Studies Standards, but you could easily cut and paste in your own standards for your state.

NYS Standard - 7.3a.2 - Students will examine the changing economic relationship between the colonies and Great Britain, including mercantilism and the practice of salutary neglect.

Included in this resource:

• A two page handout describing Mercantilism and an exit ticket (Google Slides link, PDF and PowerPoint versions included)
• A Google Slides link to a digital version that can be assigned in Google Classroom.
• Tradable items for a simulation of the economics of mercantilism (classroom version only.)
• A detailed lesson plan explain how to set up and execute the Mercantilism Simulation.

You might also be interested in my other activities that correlate with this Unit:

If you like this resource, check out my other resources in this unit!

✰ Journey Through the 13 Colonies Interactive Experience !

✰ Jamestown Settlement and the Mysterious Deaths

✰ King Philip's War - The English and the Wampanoag

✰ The Development of Race Based Slavery

✰ The Atlantic Slave Trade and the Middle Passage - Stations Activity

✰ Mercantilism Interactive Experience

✰ 13 Colonies One Pager

✰ 13 Colonies - Review and Assessment

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