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      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      I can explain how the choices we make can affect other people, places and environments, and reflect on my own opinions about ethical trade.

      Key learning points

      1. There are a number of ethical trading schemes, often identified by labelling on products.
      2. Ethical trade aims to ensure the products that we buy don’t harm the environment, animals or people.
      3. Ethical trade aims to make sure farmers are paid a fair price for their products.
      4. Governments, companies and consumers all have responsibility for ensuring ethical trade.

      Keywords

      • Responsibility - Responsibility is ownership of our own actions and choices.

      • Companies - A company is a business organisation that makes money from selling goods or services.

      • Government - A government is the group of people who are in charge of running the country.

      Common misconception

      Ethical trade only aims to make sure farmers get paid enough.

      Ethical trade aims to protect the environment and protect the rights of the farmers.

      Teacher tip

      You could asks students to identify one way that the school could be more ethical in what it buys.

      Licence

      This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0
      except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions
      (Collection 2).

      Lesson video

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      Prior knowledge starter quiz

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      What is trade?

      Correct answer: the exchange of goods and services
      the buying of goods
      the selling of good

      Q2.
      What is a government?

      people that earn money from doing a job
      people that buy things
      Correct answer: the group of people who are in charge of running the country

      Q3.
      What is a consumer?

      people that earn money from doing a job
      Correct answer: people that buy things
      people that make rules

      Q4.
      What are workers?

      Correct answer: people that earn money from doing a job
      people that buy things
      people that make rules

      Q5.
      What is the environment?

      things found in nature which can be used by humans
      Correct answer: the world that surrounds us
      people's homes

      Q6.
      What does ethical mean?

      Correct answer: relating to beliefs about what is morally right and wrong
      relating to beliefs about what should or should not be done
      a religion
      A set of rules

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      What is ethical trade?

      Correct answer: trade that is good for people and the environment
      trade that makes lots of money
      trade across country borders

      Q2.
      which of these is not an example of ethical trade?

      fair trade
      fair wear
      rainforest reliance
      Correct answer: Heinz

      Q3.
      What does fair trade aim to do?

      Correct answer: make sure the farmers get a fair price for their products
      Correct answer: to protect the environment
      Correct answer: to protect the rights of the farmers.
      Correct answer: to improve the lives of the farmers and their communities.
      to improve profit for supermarkets

      Q4.
      Who is responsible for ethical trade?

      Correct answer: governments, companies and individuals
      Correct answer: governments, companies and charities
      Correct answer: governments, charities and individuals

      Q5.
      How are governments responsible for ethical trade?

      Correct answer: make sure that companies are looking after their workers
      Correct answer: make sure that companies are looking after the environment
      make sure that they always buy fair trade
      Correct answer: make sure that companies follow the rules

      Q6.
      How are companies responsible for ethical trade?

      Correct answer: looking after their workers
      Correct answer: using ethical suppliers
      always buying the cheapest products

      To help you plan your 6 geography lesson on: Ethical trading, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...