Iowa Public Television

 
Home  -  Educators  -  Challenges
   
   
Educators

  Educator Resources:

Main
Web sites for educators
Elementary videos
Challenge Activities
   -by Subject
   -by Soft Skill
Odyssey Teacher's Guide
Teacher Created Units
School Improvements
Professional Development
Videoconferencing

Challenge Question Number 1 for Commodity Broker #1178

Related Subject(s):
Agricultural Studies
Business & Accounting Studies
Marketing/Merchandising
Political Science/Law
Related Soft Skill(s):
Analyzing Information
Collecting Information
Decision Making
Locating Information
Understanding Written Information

Describe a typical "challenge" encountered in your work:
Commodity brokers must understand the law of supply and demand. Changes in supply and demand of a product or service affects prices. A commodity broker tries to anticipate changes and then helps his customer react based on the customer's needs.



Clearly describe what you expect from the students:
Wheat, which is used to make bread, is a commodity. Students should determine how changes in the wheat price may change the price of a loaf of bread.

1) Discuss how changes in the size of the wheat crop can change the price of wheat and ultimately the price of bread. How do weather conditions affect the price?

2) Talk about how changes in demand (foreign export) can change prices.

3) What other conditions can affect the prices?



In order to give the teacher some guidance in evaluating the student's project(s); list some tips that may help to assess the student's work:
1) Students should research the cost of a loaf of bread at the local grocery store.

2) Students should research the price of wheat futures. Use the "Des Moines Register," "Wall Street Journal" or the Internet.)




 

Contact Us: lashell@iptv.org
Copyright 2009, Iowa Public Television
The School to Careers project is supported by funds from a USDE Star Schools grant.
Enhanced Careers made possible through a generous grant provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation

The views presented on this site do not necessarily reflect those of Iowa Public Television; nor does IPTV endorse the businesses represented. Our mission is to make students aware of a variety of careers with as much objective information as possible.