2nd GRADE
BUILDING AN ECONOMY
LESSON 6: I AM A NATURAL RESOURCES ECONOMIST
THE LESSON MISSION
Natural Resources Economist
A natural resources economist studies how nature impacts the economy and they determine the best ways of turning natural resources into products we can use. Natural resources economists are very important because they try to make sure that we are using natural resources in the best way possible.
So, what are natural resources? Natural resources are things that are found in nature and are valuable to humans. Natural resources are used to make food, fuel, and materials for products.
Let's look at the slideshow to learn more about natural resources.
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Tool Box
economist: an expert on the economy
economy: the ways a nation uses money and resources natural resources economist: a person who studies how nature impacts the economy and determines the best ways of turning natural resources into products we can use natural resources: things that are found in nature and are valuable to humans products: things made by humans that are bought and sold raw materials: natural resources that have been changed into a material that can be used together with other things to make a product lumber: processed trees or when the bark of the tree is removed and the tree is cut into boards so that it can be used to build things saw mill: a place where trees are processed into lumber import: when a place buys items it needs from another place export: when a place sells extra items they have to another place |
Raw Materials
Raw materials are natural resources that have been changed into a material that can be used together with other things to make a product. For example, when trees are cut down, they are taken to a saw mill where the bark is shaved off the logs. Then the logs are sawed down into lumber. The lumber is used with other materials like nails, glass, bricks, and other things to build a home. All the natural resources you just learned about must be changed into a raw material before it can be used to make a product that people can actually use.
Imports and Exports
When a place has many natural resources, it is easy to produce all the raw materials needed to build a product. Most of the time, a place does not have all the natural resources necessary to make every raw material needed for a product. When a place doesn't have a raw material they need, they will import, or buy it from another place. Places that have a lot of a natural resource can produce more raw materials than they need, so they will export, or sell, the raw materials they don't need.
Arizona
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Alabama
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Look at the pictures above of Arizona and Alabama. What natural resources does each state have? Arizona has a lot of flat land, brush, cacti, and sunshine. Alabama has a lot of trees, water, flat land, and rain. Arizona has a lot of land they could develop into towns, cacti that are used to make medicines, brush to make rope, and sunshine used to make solar energy. Alabama has a lot of land to develop towns, trees for lumber, and water to drink and to make to make electricity.
Let's look at what Arizona might import and export. Arizona doesn't have much water or many trees, so they might import water and lumber from Alabama. Arizona does have lots of cacti for medicine. So, Arizona could export medicine to Alabama.
Let's look at what Alabama might import and export. Alabama doesn't have cacti or dry brush, so it might import medicine and rope from Arizona. Alabama does have a lot of water and trees, so it might export water and lumber to Arizona.
Let's look at what Arizona might import and export. Arizona doesn't have much water or many trees, so they might import water and lumber from Alabama. Arizona does have lots of cacti for medicine. So, Arizona could export medicine to Alabama.
Let's look at what Alabama might import and export. Alabama doesn't have cacti or dry brush, so it might import medicine and rope from Arizona. Alabama does have a lot of water and trees, so it might export water and lumber to Arizona.
Star Wars - The Adventure Begins!
Now, we are going to do an activity. On your table you will see a planet folder with all kinds of pictures and information about your Star Wars planet. Take a few moments to look over your folder with your partner.
Think - Pair - Share
Now discuss the answers to these questions with your partner.
- What sorts of natural resources are available on our planet?
- What raw materials can be made with these resources?
- What kinds of products could be made with these raw materials?
- What raw materials do you think your planet might import from other planets?
- What raw materials do you think your planet might export to other planets?
Design A Product
You and your shoulder partner are natural resources economists on your planet. A businessman has come to you and asked you to help him build a new product that makes good use of your planet's natural resources. With your partner, think of a product you could make with your planet's natural resources. It doesn't have to be a real product we have on Earth now. It can be a new product no one has ever made before. Most of you will not be able to make a product using just your planet's natural resources alone. You will have to import them from other planets. Follow the instructions below to design your product.
- Draw a picture of the product in the box.
- In the first column, list all the raw materials needed to make the product.
- In the second column, list all the natural resources needed to make the raw material.
- In the third column, write whether the natural resource or raw material is OP or on your planet or IP, needs to be imported.
- If you finish early, look at other tables' planet folders. Which planets could you import each needed natural resource or raw material from?
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MISSION ACCOMPLISHED
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Congratulations! You Did It! I can describe how a product is made from natural resources. |
Original Lesson by April Smith
Constructed to meet International Technology and Engineering Educator's Standards for Technological and Engineering Literacy:
Constructed to meet International Technology and Engineering Educator's Standards for Technological and Engineering Literacy:
- ITEEA Standard 1: Nature and Characteristics of Technology and Engineering K - 2nd Grade STEL-1A: Compare the natural world and human-made world.
- ITEEA Standard 1: Nature and Characteristics of Technology and Engineering K - 2nd Grade STEL-1B: Explain the tools and techniques that people use to help them do things.
- ITEEA Standard 1: Nature and Characteristics of Technology and Engineering K - 2nd Grade STEL-1C: Demonstrate that creating can be done by anyone.
- ITEEA Standard 1: Nature and Characteristics of Technology and Engineering K - 2nd Grade STEL-1D: Discuss the roles of scientists, engineers, technologists, and others who work with technology.
- ITEEA Standard 2: Core Concepts of Technology and Engineering K - 2nd Grade STEL-2A: Illustrate how systems have parts or components that work together to accomplish a goal.
- ITEEA Standard 2: Core Concepts of Technology and Engineering K - 2nd Grade STEL-2C: Explain that materials are selected for use because they possess desirable properties and characteristics.
- ITEEA Standard 2: Core Concepts of Technology and Engineering K - 2nd Grade STEL-2E: Collaborate effectively as a member of a team.
- ITEEA Standard 3: Integration of Knowledge, Technologies, and Practices K - 2nd Grade STEL-3B: Draw connections between technology and human experiences.
- ITEEA Standard 4: Impacts of Technology K - 2nd Grade STEL-4A: Explain ways that technology helps with everyday tasks.
- ITEEA Standard 4: Impacts of Technology K - 2nd Grade STEL-4C: Compare simple technologies to evaluate their impacts.
- ITEEA Standard 4: Impacts of Technology K - 2nd Grade STEL-4E: Design new technologies that could improve their daily lives.
- ITEEA Standard 5: Influence of Society on Technological Development K - 2nd Grade STEL-5A: Explain the needs and wants of individuals and societies.
- ITEEA Standard 5: Influence of Society on Technological Development K - 2nd Grade STEL-5B: Explore how technologies are developed to meet individual and societal needs and wants.
- ITEEA Standard 7: Design in Technology and Engineering Education K - 2nd Grade STEL-7A: Apply design concepts, principles, and processes through play and exploration.
- ITEEA Standard 7: Design in Technology and Engineering Education K - 2nd Grade STEL-7B: Demonstrate that designs have requirements.
- ITEEA Standard 7: Design in Technology and Engineering Education K - 2nd Grade STEL-7C: Explain that design is a response to wants and needs.
- ITEEA Standard 7: Design in Technology and Engineering Education K - 2nd Grade STEL-7D: Discuss that all designs have different characteristics that can be described.
- ITEEA Standard 7: Design in Technology and Engineering Education K - 2nd Grade STEL-7F: Differentiate essential skills of the technology and engineering design process.
- ITEEA Standard 7: Design in Technology and Engineering Education K - 2nd Grade STEL-7G: Apply skills necessary for making in design.
- ITEEA Standard 8: Applying, Maintaining, and Assessing Technological Products and Systems K - 2nd Grade STEL-8A: Analyze how things work.
- ITEEA Standard 8: Applying, Maintaining, and Assessing Technological Products and Systems K - 2nd Grade STEL-8C: Describe qualities of everyday products.
- AL DLCS: Computational Thinker Abstraction 1st Grade Standard 1: Classify and sort information into logical order with and without a computer.
- AL DLCS: Computing Analyst Data 2nd Grade Standard 14: Collect, create, and organize data in a digital chart or graph.
- AL DLCS: Innovative Designer Design Thinking K Standard 13: Use a design process in a guided setting to create an artifact or solve a problem.