Resources and Economics (Unit 2)

Wow! Isn't it interesting that third graders learn about ECONOMICS? I think it's great! These are skills (yet again!) that they will certainly use for the rest of their lives. Think about your job, are you providing a service, or helping create a good? What about taxes? We all know about those! I do for sure. My mom and husband are accountants! Do you know a farmer? Farmers use capital resources like tractors to help grow a natural resource! It's really neat how these all work together to create things that we use or eat everyday!

Students will be learning all about resources (natural, human, capital) and all about economics (goods and services, producers, consumers, currency, costs and spending, saving choices, taxes, government goods and services, and more!) 

This unit will last about 10 days. 
Our next unit of study will be covering the life and legacy of Cesar Chavez! 

Georgia Performance Standards (GPS) to be covered:

SS3E1 (Social Studies, 3rd, Economics, 1st standard): The student will describe the four types of productive resources: a. Natural (Land)
b. Human (Labor)
c. Capital (Capital goods)
d. Entrepreneurship (Used to create goods and services)

SS3E2 The student will explain that governments provide certain types of goods and services in a market economy, and pay for these through taxes and will describe services such as schools, libraries, roads, police/fire protection, and military. 

SS3E3 The student will give examples of interdependence and trade and will explain how voluntary exchange benefits both parties. 
a. Describe the interdependence of consumers and producers of goods and services. 
b. Describe how goods and services are allocated by price in the marketplace.
c. Explain that some things are made locally, some elsewhere in the country, and some in other countries.
d. Explain that most countries create their own currency for use as money. 

SS3E4 The student will describe the costs and benefits of personal spending and saving choices. 

WHOA!

We have a lot to cover! :)

We will be using our interactive notebooks, textbooks, and workbooks a lot during this unit!

Helpful resources are below-- just copy and paste the URL :)

http://quizlet.com/9597941/3rd-grade-georgia-economics-flash-cards/  (Click on flashcards to review important Economic terms)


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WiFflszadhQ   (Songs about Economics by Scottndisa)


Students will definitely be learning how to use economics in my classroom ~ MORE on this later! :)

Please ask me about more resources and/or help! 


Best, 

Mrs. Foster

Map and Globe Skills (Unit 1)

Map and Globe skills are super important not only for third grade, but for life! Think about it. Whenever you go on a trip, whether you use a paper map or a GPS, you are using map skills to get from point A to point B! Even going from your home to Wal-Mart- you use directions skills subconsciously to get from point A to point B. Globe skills are also important. Using skills like locating certain places, using latitude, longitude, north, south, east, and west, and so on are skills that I still use today! 

This Map and Globe Skills unit is very short- only lasting about 10 days! This means that we will be doing a lesson a day. 

Here is the Georgia Performance Standard for Map and Globe Skills:

SS3G1 (Social Studies 3rd Geography Standard 1): The student will locate major topographical features.
a) Identify major rivers in the US: Mississippi, Ohio, Rio Grande, Colorado, Hudson. 
b) Identify major mountain ranges of the US: Appalachian and Rocky
c) Locate the equator, prime meridian, and lines of latitude and longitude on a globe.   


I have also listed some helpful websites, games, and information to engage your child at home and help them with map and globe skills. All you need to do is copy and paste the website into your URL and it will take you to the webpage :)

http://www.apples4theteacher.com/map-of-usa.html   (Map of the United States of America. Learn state names and where they're located. Also learn state capitals and state nicknames.)

http://stellar-students.blogspot.com/2012/09/maps-and-globes-continents-and-oceans.html   (Another 3rd grade teacher posts links to Map Skills information, games, and videos)

http://www.totally3rdgrade.com/globe.html  (A helpful song about Map/Globe skills!)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NazvXwWumaQ (There's a Map on My Lap! by Tish Rabe) 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UeeLivQH7Ok (The Cardinal Directions Song by Adam Crossley 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRYSSNq5GSc (An introduction to Maps and Globes by Larry Sanger)


**I will be using something like this with the kids when we learn about maps and globes. 

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Georgia-Social-Studies-Map-Skills-Activity-Bundle-3rd-Grade-330665

At some point during this unit, students will:

1. *Find and locate the equator, prime meridian, lines of latitude/longitude, 0 degrees of latitude/longitude. 
2. *Work in groups, giving directions to Wal-Mart from AES. 
3. *Use globes and work in groups to locate continents and oceans. 
4. *Discuss symbols, map key, distance scale, compass rose, border/boundaries.
5. *Draw and label the rivers and mountain ranges using worksheets of a US map.

Please ask me for additional resources! 

Best, 

Mrs. Foster