2.7 Overview Social Studies SOL

2.7 OVERVIEW

The student will describe the differences between natural resources (water, soil, wood, and coal), human resources (people at work), and capital resources (machines, tools, and buildings).

SUGGESTED INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES

Create a class chart divided into two columns: one labeled GOODS and one-labeled SERVICES. Under the column GOODS have the students generate a list items that are considered basic needs such as food, clothing, and shelter. Students can also list wants they may have also. Under the column SERVICES have the students generate a list of the services they encounter in their everyday life such as teachers, doctors, bus drivers, and sales people. Post the chart for students to use.
Divide the class into groups and have each group make a collage of pictures from magazines and available pictures that show one collage of goods and one collage of services. Have the different groups share their collage with the class.
Read a teacher selected book about goods and services and create a similar chart that shows goods and services from the story.
Introduce the term producer to the students by explaining that a producer is a person who uses resources to make goods and/or provide services.
Explain to the students that there are three main types of resources. Natural resources: materials that come from nature. Human resources: people working to produce goods and services. Capital resources: goods made by people and used to produce other goods and services
Create a chart labeled with the three types of resources and have the students list school resources and place them in the correct category.
Have the students copy the chart and draw pictures to go with each of the resources they notice at school and at home.
Explain to the students that the three main resources can be further described in the following way that shows the differences between the resources. Natural: water, soil, wood, and coal. Human: farmers, miners, builders, painters. Capital: hammers, computers, trucks, lawn mowers, factory buildings.
Read a teacher-selected book that includes examples of the three main resources. Sample elementary economic books and lesson plans are included at this site: http://www.mcps.k12.md.us/curriculum/
socialstd/Econ_Geog.html.
Before reading the book, review the three main types of resources and pass out a set of index cards to each student with the terms natural, human, and capital written on them. Explain to the students that as you read the story they are to listen for examples of the three main resources and are to hold up the correct card as you read an example of one of the resources.

WEB SITES

http://cob.jmu.edu/econed/Elementary.htm
Elementary economics lessons are available at this site.

http://www.mcps.k12.md.us/curriculum/socialstd/Econ_Geog.html
Sample elementary economic books and lesson plans are included at this site.

http://www.economicsamerica.org
The National Council of Economic Education has many outstanding resources.

http://www.pen.k12.va.us/VDOE/Instruction/info.pdf
The Primary Knowledge of Economics is an excellent resource.

http://www.vcu.edu/busweb/vcee
This is the Web site of the Virginia Council of Economic Education.

http://www.fte.org
Foundation for Teaching Economics Web site contains useful information.

http://chumby.dlib.vt.edu/melissa/posters/posterset.html
Social Studies curriculum poster sets are available at this Web site.

LITERATURE LINKS

Describe the difference between natural resources, human resource and capital resources

Penny, Malcolm.
Our Environment. Raintree/Steck Vaughn, 1999.
This book briefly discusses such environmental concerns as preservation of natural resources and recycling.

Cherry, Lynne.
The Great Kapok Tree: Tale of the Amazon Rain Forest. Voyager Books, 2000.
The many different animals of the rainforest try to convince the man with the ax not to cut down their trees.