Unit Plan 32 (Grade 3 Social Studies): Natural Resources and Industries

Focus: Investigate how natural, human, and capital resources combine with landforms, waterways, climate, and weather to create different regional industries (farming, tourism, manufacturing, etc.).

Grade Level: 3

Subject Area: Social Studies (Economics • Geography)

Total Unit Duration: 5 sessions (one week), 45–60 minutes per session

I. Introduction

In this unit, students explore how where we live and what resources we have shape the kinds of industries (jobs and businesses) that grow in a region. They learn to identify natural resources (from nature), human resources (workers and their skills), and capital resources (tools and machines), and then connect them to landforms, waterways, and climate. Through case-study stations and a mini “Build-an-Industry” project, students see why some places focus on farming, others on tourism, fishing, or factories—and how geography and resources work together.

Essential Questions

• What are natural, human, and capital resources, and how do they help create industries?
• How do landforms, waterways, and climate influence what people do for work in different regions?
• Why do some regions have more farms, others more factories, and others more tourist attractions?
• How do resources and geography together shape the jobs and products in a community or region?

II. Objectives and Standards

Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:

1. Identify and give examples of natural, human, and capital resources in their community and other regions.
2. Describe how landforms, waterways, climate, and weather patterns affect the types of work and industries that grow in a region.
3. Match sample regional industries (farming, fishing, tourism, manufacturing, forestry) to the resources and geographic features that support them.
4. Use simple maps, photos, and descriptions to infer what industries might be important in a given place.
5. Create a “Build-an-Industry Poster” that shows one regional industry and explains which natural, human, and capital resources—and which geographic features—make it possible.

Standards Alignment — 3rd Grade (C3-based custom)

• 3.C3.Econ.5 — Identify natural, human, and capital resources that support community industries.
  • Example: For a regional product (e.g., wheat bread), list resources: soil/rain (natural), baker (human), oven (capital).
• 3.C3.Geo.3 — Describe landforms, waterways, climate, and weather patterns; connect them to human activities.
  • Example: Explain why a town near a river might have a levee.

Success Criteria — Student Language

• I can name at least one natural, one human, and one capital resource for a local or regional industry.
• I can explain how landforms, rivers, lakes, or climate help certain jobs and industries grow.
• I can read simple maps and pictures and guess what industries might be important there.
• I can make a poster that shows one industry and clearly labels the resources and geographic features it depends on.