A Fur Trading Post

Students were divided into teams.  Some played the part of 1st Nations traders and some were Europeans.  Using cards representing trading items (fur pelts, pots, guns, biscuits etc.), the object was to get the best price for their goods and to sell everything they brought with them.  In the first round they were not allowed to speak.  This was to simulate trading without knowing each others'  languages.  In the 2nd round they were allowed to use a few words of Chinook jargon - actual words used when the 1st Nations and Europeans started sharing a common language.  The students agreed that role playing is a fun and effective way to learn.