Skip to main content

Consumerism and Global Trade

A secondary education lesson plan from the WVU History Department provided in conjunction with the 57th James Morton Callahan lecture of Dr. Minayo Nasiali and sponsored by the WV Humanities Council. This lesson plan was developed by WV History PhD candidate Kristen Bailey.

Lesson Plan Components

This lesson plan from the WVU History Department is provided in conjunction with the 57th James Morton Callahan lecture of Dr. Minayo Nasiali and outlines a multi-pronged approach to discussing global consumerism with students. Teachers may elect to use the material in the sequence provided or, depending on their timeframe and goals, use one or two elements to fit into their existing lesson plans and goals.

Below is a preview of the individual lessons. Download the Complete Lesson Plan (GDOC)

Lesson One

General background about global consumerism. This includes a brief history of how nations have long engaged in trade outside of their borders to gather raw materials/resources for production...

View Lesson One

Lesson Two

This component introduces the subject of government support of consumerism through military protection. Linking consumerism with familiar historic events, including the Boston Tea Party...

View Lesson Two

Lesson Three

The student relationship to global consumerism is brought directly into the classroom with the examination of the stages of production of the tee-shirt, one of the most common consumer items...

View Lesson Three

Lesson Four

Exploration of the labor in the production of items of clothing. This component introduces students to labor in the garment industry by examining a workplace tragedy and resulting workplace safety laws...

View Lesson Four

For additional resources and source material, go to Recommended Reading.

Callahan Lecture History Lesson Plans

Secondary education lesson plans developed by the WVU History Department in conjunction with the James Morton Callahan lecture series and sponsored by the WV Humanities Council. 

Trap door used in the holocaust

History and the Holocaust

58th Callahan Lecture (2025)

This lesson plan outlines a multi-pronged approach to discussing global consumerism with students. Teachers may elect to use the material in the sequence provided or, depending on their timeframe and goals, use one or two elements to fit into their existing lesson plans and goals.

Read More
Cartoon by Keppler titled "From Producer to Consumer"

Consumerism and Global Trade

57th Callahan Lecture (2024)

This lesson plan outlines a multi-pronged approach to discussing global consumerism with students. Teachers may elect to use the material in the sequence provided or, depending on their timeframe and goals, use one or two elements to fit into their existing lesson plans and goals.

Read More
James Callahan sitting at a desk in his library

The Callahan Lecture Series

WVU History Department

The Callahan Lecture Series was established in 1964 to honor historian and one of the founders of modern diplomatic history, Dr. James Morton Callahan. Callahan served as chair of the WVU Department of History from 1902 to 1929. 

Read More