Hands-on Activity Shows Why Some Countries Are Poor

Haiti is poor and Germany is rich. Why? Have students each wad up a piece of paper. A BuzzFeed video shows a wastebasket being moved to the front of the room. The contest begins when students try to throw their paper wads into the basket.

     What will students in the back of the room say? They'll claim they are at a disadvantage.

The discussion begins. What are some of the disadvantages poor countries face? How can these countries help themselves improve their situations? What would be comparable to adding a wastebasket to the back of the room? What are some of the ways privileged countries could help poor countries? What would be similar to students in the front of the room sharing their chairs with students from the back of the room?