Levelland High School

LHS students in Mr. Hill’s Principles of Business classes recently participated in an interactive trading simulation: The Trading Game. This game is designed to demonstrate how marketplaces function and how access to trade affects satisfaction and opportunity. Each student received a sealed brown bag containing a random assortment of fun, small items. Students were told the items belonged to them and would not be returned. In the first round, students examined their bags silently, without removing, showing, or discussing the contents, before they rated their satisfaction on a scale of 1 to 5. As the activity progressed, students were gradually given more access to information and trade. First, they were allowed to see what others had received and rate their satisfaction again. Next, they were permitted to trade only with classmates seated in their row. In the final round, students could trade freely with anyone in the classroom. After each stage, students re-evaluated their satisfaction level. Students learned that as trading opportunities expanded, creativity increased. Some students even maximized value by breaking apart multi-item packages to create more trading options. By the end of the simulation, the results were clear: as the “market” grew and choices increased, student satisfaction rose dramatically. Through this hands-on lab, students gained a deeper understanding of key economic principles, including opportunity, freedom of choice, access to knowledge, and the importance of win-win outcomes. Thank you Mr. Hill, for teaching lessons that extend well beyond the classroom and into real-world decision-making.