Objective: To recognize and understand the competition and expansion of the Fur Trade in early North America and the impacts on trading relationships in the region.

Materials Needed: - Blank sheet of paper and writing utensil (for each student) - Dice - Props and/or pictures representing trading posts, trappers, and traders (facilitator’s choice)

Introduction (5 mins): Facilitator will explain the purpose of the activity, discuss the main investors and stakeholders that were involved in the fur trade, and the geographical scope of influence this trade had.

Game Activity (20 mins): - Divide class into even teams of 3-4 students with desks pushed away to make one big game board. - Students will role a dice to determine how far each team can move along the game board. - At each space on the game board, facilitator will stop and explain the impact/role of the group that landed on that spot. - Each group will compete to reach their regional trading post first, in order to win their ‘fur bundle’. - Lastly, teams must offer a trade to a nearby rival trading post in order to increase their coin bundle.

Debrief (5 mins): Facilitator to discuss with the students the different impacts on trading posts, trappers and traders. It is imperative to acknowledge the issues of disproportionate privilege that allowed certain groups to gain a head start or advantage in trading relationships.

Conclusion (5 mins): Facilitator to summarize the activity, connecting the narrative to the contemporary context of trade and intergenerational relationships. The goal of this activity is to recognize the effects of competition and expansion of the Fur Trade in early North America, and the importance of understanding how it paved the way for contemporary trading markets.

Reflection (10 mins): Facilitator to ask each student to reflect on how competing to win the ‘fur bundle’ and establishing trade with a rival trading post was similar to trading relationships in early North America. Students will write down their answers on the blank sheet of paper. Share with the group.