Trading Across a Continent is a free printable Grade 3 to Grade 5 social studies worksheet on trade networks among Native nations before 1492, aligned to C3 Framework indicator D2.Eco.4.3-5. It prints 7 questions with an answer key on its own sheet of paper, in 25 versions that each ask different questions, so no two students in the class work from the same page. Print it from the browser or download it as a PDF — no account, no email.
Set 1 of 25 · the same problems every time you open this link.
Draw a line from each trade good to where it came from. Then choose the best answers.
1.Draw a line from each one to its match.
Obsidian, a black volcanic glass
Macaw feathers
Conch and whelk shells
Turquoise
A.The Yellowstone area of the Rocky Mountains
B.Birds traded north from Mexico to the Southwest
C.The southern coasts near Florida
D.Mines in what is now New Mexico
2.What did many coastal peoples specialize in making to trade?
A.Iron tools
B.Glass windows
C.Shell beads
3.The Hopewell people of the Ohio Valley traded over huge distances. Which shows this?
A.They built the first railroad
B.Copper, shells and obsidian from far-off places were found at their sites
C.They left no objects at all
4.Why did farming peoples and hunting peoples trade with each other?
A.Farmers had corn to spare and hunters had meat and hides
B.Both had exactly the same goods
C.Neither had anything to trade
5.What does it mean to specialize?
A.To make everything yourself
B.To make what you are best placed to make and trade for the rest
C.To stop trading
6.At trading gatherings on the Columbia River, what was one important good?
A.Dried salmon
B.Cotton cloth from England
C.Gold coins
7.What was Plains Indian Sign Language used for?
A.Writing laws on paper
B.Talking with people of other nations who spoke different languages
C.Sending messages by telegraph
LessonPrint · D2.Eco.4.3-5 · Set 1 · free to copy for classroom use
Answer key — Trading Across a Continent
Set 1. Prints on its own sheet.
1.1. Obsidian, a black volcanic glass — A (The Yellowstone area of the Rocky Mountains) 2. Macaw feathers — B (Birds traded north from Mexico to the Southwest) 3. Conch and whelk shells — C (The southern coasts near Florida) 4. Turquoise — D (Mines in what is now New Mexico)
2.Shell beads
3.Copper, shells and obsidian from far-off places were found at their sites
4.Farmers had corn to spare and hunters had meat and hides
5.To make what you are best placed to make and trade for the rest
6.Dried salmon
7.Talking with people of other nations who spoke different languages
Questions about Trading Across a Continent
What does the Trading Across a Continent worksheet cover?
It practices trade networks among Native nations before 1492 — 7 questions for Grade 3 to Grade 5, all on C3 Framework D2.Eco.4.3-5: Explain why people and businesses each do one thing and then trade. The instruction to students is “Draw a line from each trade good to where it came from. Then choose the best answers”, and the answer key follows on the next sheet.
Which C3 Framework indicator does Trading Across a Continent practice?
D2.Eco.4.3-5, under Economics for Grade 3 to Grade 5. The published indicator reads: “Explain why individuals and businesses specialize and trade.” The worksheet assesses that indicator rather than a paraphrase of it.
What age or grade is this worksheet for?
Trading Across a Continent is written for Grade 3 to Grade 5, typically ages 40-41. It is one of the sheets on D2.Eco.4.3-5, so it suits any student working at that standard — including older students revisiting it and younger ones working ahead.
Does Trading Across a Continent come with an answer key?
Yes. All 7 answers are generated from the same problems as the questions, so the key cannot drift out of step with the sheet. It starts on a fresh sheet of paper, after the questions, so it is not handed out with the class by accident.
How many different versions of Trading Across a Continent can I print?
25 — one per student, and all 25 ask different questions. Set 1 downloads the whole class as a single PDF. Every version is fixed to its own address, so a sheet printed today holds the same problems when you reopen it next week.
Is Trading Across a Continent free to print and photocopy?
Yes. Trading Across a Continent, its answer key and its 25 versions are free to print and photocopy for your own class, with no account, no email capture and no subscription at the download step. Please do not resell them or republish them as your own.
More practice for D2.Eco.4.3-5
Explain why people and businesses each do one thing and then trade.