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Written by Joanne Gilbert

Economics-5th grade
Date: 11/4/04 & 11/5/04
Lesson 2: Countries and Resources

Objective:
TSWBAT identify natural resources, human resources, and capital resources. TSWBAT explain why different countries face different challenges in producing goods and how international trade can help. TSWBAT construct a PowerPoint presentation about the resources a business consumes and produces.

Michigan Benchmarks:
SS.IV.2.1: Distinguish between natural resources, human capital, and capital equipment in the production of a good or service.
SS.IV.5.2: Describe benefits of international trade to consumers and producers.
Tech.2.LE.3: Retrieve and communicate information using a technological system.

NETS:
Prior to completion of Grade 5 students will:
1. Use keyboards and other common input and output devices (including adaptive devices when necessary) efficiently and effectively. (1)
2. Use technology tools (e.g., multimedia authoring, presentation, Web tools, digital cameras, scanners) for individual and collaborative writing, communication, and publishing activities to create knowledge products for audiences inside and outside the classroom. (3, 4)
3. Use technology resources (e.g., calculators, data collection probes, videos, educational software) for problem solving, self-directed learning, and extended learning activities. (5, 6)

Materials:
Country bags with resources (natural resources-from The Scrap Box, capital resources-tape, scissors, glue, markers, etc), computers with PowerPoint

Anticipatory Set:
What is a resource? What resources do I need to build a house?

Modeling Activity:
Students will break up into their countries and find out what resources they have. They are to start to try to build a toy. After a few minutes, I will bring the class back together and we will talk about difficulties encountered. Does everyone have the same resources? Does everyone have enough of a resource? What are your resources? How could you categorize your resources? Now we will briefly discuss the three kinds of resources. How could you solve your problems? This will lead into a discussion about trade. Countries trade with each other to get what they need/want, because resources are not spread evenly around the world. Before there was money, people used to barter. How does money make trade easier? When you trade, should it be a fair deal?

Guided Practice:
Students will trade with other countries if desired, and then work together to build a toy using their resources.

Independent Practice:
Students will pick a business and create a PowerPoint slide show about its resources. The first slide will tell what the business is and what goods/services it provides. For the second slide students will explain what a natural resource is and what natural resources their business uses. The third slide with explain capital resources and the fourth human resources. The last slide will explain how the company is a consumer and a producer.

Closure:
Questions to ask: What were your natural resources? What were your capital resources? What were your human resources? Was it useful to trade with another country? Why? How did you figure out what to trade? How did you divide up jobs in your country?

Assessment:
I will monitor students understanding of the topic during the discussions. For my class, I will grade their slide show to see they included everything. Also, for my class I will have them write in their journals about the lesson to see what they have gained from it.