Growing Chocolate Simulation

What do you know? On one side of your index card, write words you associate with chocolate. On the other side, write words you associate with fair trade.

Mastery Objectives: Students will be able to explain how cocoa farmers in Ghana are taking action to increase their incomes and improve the lives of their families. Students will be able to explain how chocolate consumers can help cocoa farmers in Ghana increase their incomes and improve the lives of their families.

Projects Posters Interview Persuasive letter

MATERIALS NEEDED Index card or paper Brown construction paper Pencils Cocoa bean templates Scissors Paper clips Play money Earning sheet

Simulation:Growing Cocoa Beans You are going to experience what happens to cocoa farmers when they are paid for their cocoa beans. You will do the activity twice. During the first round you will be independent farmers. During the second round you will be Fair Trade cooperative farmers.

Farms Move to your farms. Everyone works at a separate table.

Growing Beans: Independent Farmers You will “grow” your cocoa beans by making them out of paper. Use the templates on your tables to help you make quality beans that won’t be rejected by the Chocolate company. You will have five minutes to make the beans and you should try to make at least 25 beans.

Grow your cocoa beans

Selling your Beans A representative of an International Chocolate Company will come to your table to buy your beans. Spread out your beans for inspection, putting them in groups of five. You will receive $1.00 for each “sack” of five that the company buys.

Reporting your income Record your name and the amount of money your earnings sheet.

Second Simulation Now you are Fair Trade Cooperative Farmers.

Move to your Cooperatives Put yourself into cooperative farming groups. Give your farming cooperative a name and put it on a table tent.

Growing Beans: Fair Trade Farmer You will “grow” your cocoa beans again as Fair Trade Farmers. Use the templates to help you make quality beans that won’t be rejected by the Fair Trade Chocolate Company. You will have five minutes to make the beans and you should try to make at least 25 beans.

Grow your cocoa beans

Selling your Beans A representative of the “Fair Trade Chocolate’ Company will come to your table to buy your beans. Spread out your beans for inspection, paper clip them in sacks of five. You will receive $1.25 for each sack that the company buys.

Social Premium Your cooperative will also receive a Social Premium of $ from the Fair Trade Chocolate Company because your cooperative is part owner of the Fair Trade Chocolate Company.

Reporting your income Record your cooperative’s name and the amount of money your cooperative earned from the sale of your beans on your earnings sheet. Record the amount of money you earned as Social Premium.

Spending your Social Premium Your Fair Trade farming cooperative will decide how to spend the Social Premium of that your cooperative received. Decide how your cooperative will spend the Social Premium using the following list as a guide.

Social Premium Choices New school for the community New well Solar cookers for all families Soap business Computer Camp in Kumasi for the children Your ideas Be prepared to share and explain your choices.

Compare & Contrast Who makes the most money from the sale of their beans? Why? Why do the fair trade farmers get a Social Benefit? How does this help them?

Chocolate Lovers: Think, Pair, Share What can chocolate consumers do to help Ghanaian farmers get fair price for their cocoa and support their families and communities? Discuss this question at your table and be prepared to share your ideas.

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