- Definition
A trade is when people or businesses swap things, like toys or services, usually for money.
When you give a cashier money for a snack, you are making a trade.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: Trading is like swapping your apple for a friend's cookie, or giving money to the store to get a new toy.
Ask your child: If you wanted a friend's sticker, what could you trade?
Common mix-up: Kids often think trading is just swapping one thing for another, like toys. Trading also includes using money to buy something.
Examples
- Swapping your blue crayon for a friend's red crayon is a trade.
- Doing extra chores to earn money is a trade of your work for payment.
trade is a term used in Ontario’s Kindergarten to Grade 8 curriculum.
Where this shows up
- Grade 4 Science and Technology
- Grade 5 Science and Technology
- Grade 6 Science and Technology
- Grade 7 Science and Technology
+38 more mentions across the curriculum
The descriptions on this page are SmartStudy’s own original, plain-language writing — not the Ministry’s wording. They are aligned to the Ontario Curriculum, © King’s Printer for Ontario. For the Ministry’s official wording, see the source link below. SmartStudy is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Government of Ontario or the Ministry of Education. Ontario Curriculum and Resources ↗
