Unit Plan 32 (Grade 4 Social Studies): Resources and Industries
Analyze how natural, human, and capital resources—and the state’s landforms, waterways, and climate—shape where people live, work, and build industries, helping students connect geography to economic activity and understand the benefits and trade-offs of using local resources.
Focus: Analyze natural, human, and capital resources that support key state industries, and explain how landforms, waterways, and climate shape where people live, work, and build those industries. Students connect geography to economic activity, exploring how resources and environment create opportunities and trade-offs in their state.
Grade Level: 4
Subject Area: Social Studies (Economics • Geography)
Total Unit Duration: 5 sessions (one week), 45–60 minutes per session
I. Introduction
Students explore how resources and geography shape the industries in their state. They learn that natural resources (like soil, water, minerals, forests), human resources (workers and skills), and capital resources (machines, buildings, tools) all work together to support industries such as farming, manufacturing, tourism, or energy. Using maps, charts, and simple case studies, students see how landforms, waterways, and climate influence where industries are located and how land is used. They also consider benefits and costs of using resources to support these industries.
Essential Questions
- What are natural, human, and capital resources, and how do they support industries in our state?
- How do landforms, waterways, and climate help explain where people live, work, and build different industries?
- How do resources and geography influence settlement patterns and land use (farmland, factories, cities, recreation)?
- What are some benefits and costs of using our state’s resources to support industries?
- Why is it important to understand how our economy depends on the environment?
II. Objectives and Standards
Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:
- Define and identify natural, human, and capital resources in their state with concrete examples.
- Describe how these resources support at least two key state industries (e.g., agriculture, manufacturing, tourism, energy, services).
- Explain how landforms, waterways, and climate/weather patterns affect where industries and communities are located.
- Use a simple state map to show how geography and resources relate to specific industries (e.g., farms near rivers, factories near transportation routes).
- Analyze at least one industry for benefits (jobs, products, services) and costs or trade-offs (environmental impacts, land use changes).
- Create a “Resources & Industries Snapshot” (mini-poster or one-page report) showing how resources, geography, and land use support an industry in their state.
Standards Alignment — 4th Grade (C3-based custom)
- 4.C3.Econ.5 — Identify natural, human, and capital resources that support key state industries; weigh benefits/costs.
- Example: For a major state product, list resources and possible environmental trade-offs.
- 4.C3.Geo.3 — Describe landforms, waterways, climate/weather patterns; explain impacts on settlement and land use.
- Example: Explain how a river valley encouraged trade and farming.
Success Criteria — Student Language
- I can name and sort examples of natural, human, and capital resources in my state.
- I can explain how these resources support at least two industries in my state.
- I can use a map to show how landforms, waterways, and climate connect to where people live and work.
- I can describe at least one benefit and one cost of using resources for a state industry.
- I can create a Resources & Industries Snapshot that clearly shows how an industry depends on resources and geography.