1. 4th Grade SS Unit 5 Activity 2 Literature activities and lesson plans for teachers and kids links economics lesson plans to popular children’s literature titles. The ideas are easy and practical and fit well http://www.vrml.k12.la.us/4th/ss/2008_CC_4SS/Unit5/un5act2/unit5Act2.htm

2008 Comprehensive Curriculum 4th Grade Social Studies Links Activity 2: Economic Activities (GLE: 14) Materials List: Local, State, and National Economy BLM; computer and presentation monitor (optional); newspapers and magazines; Economic Activities/Resources of the United States Chart BLM Provide students with the Local, State, and National Economy BLM. A sample is below. Explain to students that the word e conomics relates to the way that people use goods and resources to meet their needs and wants. Have them define this as the first word in their Economy Alphabet book. Additionally, explain to students that they have been part of the local, state, and national economy before and may not even realize it. Ask students if they have ever purchased anything in the community. Elicit student responses. Using a computer and presentation monitor (if available), display the students’ reactions under the title Local Economy . Then ask students if they have ever gone on a trip around the state and stayed in a hotel, eaten at a restaurant, and purchased items while they were there. Elicit responses from the students and post these in the

2. 4th Grade SS Unit 5 Activity 3 Literature activities and lesson plans for teachers and kids links economics lesson plans to popular children’s literature titles. The ideas are easy and practical and fit well http://www.vrml.k12.la.us/4th/ss/2008_CC_4SS/Unit5/un5act3/unit5Act3.htm

2008 Comprehensive Curriculum 4th Grade Social Studies Links Activity 3: Natural Resources and Human Survival (GLE: 18) Materials List: chart paper Have students generate a list of basic human needs on chart paper. Once the list has been generated, have the students divide the list into three categories: food, clothing, and shelter. As a class, come to a consensus on a definition of natural resource. Have students in teams of two choose two items from two different categories and list the natural resources needed to produce the items. Example: House Category: shelter Natural resources: wood (trees), metal, sand, soil After learning about the concept of natural resources , have the students write a story chain view literacy strategy descriptions ) about why natural resources are important to human survival. Creating a story chain will promote writing and reading. Group the students into teams of five. The first student in the group initiates the story. The next student adds a second line. The next student will contribute the third line, etc. until the last student summarizes the situation. All group members should be prepared to revise the story based on the last student’s input as to whether it was clear or not. Students should be encouraged to be creative. Encourage students to discuss why natural resources are important to human endeavors (e.g., they help individuals satisfy their basic needs by taking natural resources and creating things beyond their original state). When finished, allow groups to share their stories with the class to stimulate further discussion. See the sample story from a story chain group below:

A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z

Page 1     1-2 of 2    1