Cookie Policy

Our website uses cookies to understand content and feature usage to drive site improvements over time. To learn more, review our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Skip Navigation
OER Logo

Geography: Supply Chain

Page 1 of 3
Checkmark Alert Banner
Did you know? You can access an editable version of this activity: Google Doc or Word Doc
BIG HISTORY PROJECT / LESSON 6.5ACTIVITY GEOGRAPHY: SUPPLY CHAIN1Unless otherwise noted, this work is licensed under CC BY 4.0. Credit: “Geography: Supply Chain”, OER Project, https://www.oerproject.com/PurposeMapping the routes of everyday supplies will help you understand how interconnected the world has become.Key informationA supply chain is the path a product takes from start to finish. For example, think about the story of a piece of paper and how it got to you. It began as a tree in a forest (raw materials). Itgot sent to a factory where it was manufactured into paper. Then, it was bundled up for shipping and sent on a plane, train, or truck to get to a store near you.Process1.Choose an item you use in your daily life.Research the raw materials needed to make it and how those raw materials came together to form the finished project. 2.After you research, add the raw materials and their locationsto the table below. Draw a symbol to represent the raw material,and then add that symbol to the map (on page 4).Raw materialsLocationSymbol3.Research where your item was made. If you can’t find a “Made in ...” tag on your item, try searching for a store online that carries your item. Then, list the factories that produce your item, their location, and draw a symbol to represent it in the table below. Then, add those symbols to the map.FactoriesLocationSymbol
BIG HISTORY PROJECT / LESSON 6.5ACTIVITY GEOGRAPHY: SUPPLY CHAIN24.Now, research the transportation used to get your item to you. Create symbols for each mode of transportation and add them to the map. Your item might have requiredmultiple modes of transportation to get to you. If it crosseda body of water, you can assume it traveledbyship, which is cheaper than flying. If it crossedover land, you can decide if you think it was carried by truck or by train.TransportationLocationSymbolCargo shipWaterTrainLandTruckLandPlaneAir5.After you’ve finished adding everything to the map, answer the questions below.•How could this supply chain be made more effective or efficient?•How does this supply chain impact the environment?
BIG HISTORY PROJECT / LESSON 6.5ACTIVITY GEOGRAPHY: SUPPLY CHAIN3