Grade 4 Social Studies – Strand 4
This strand helps students see the importance of the natural resources of their island(s) in shaping their way of life. Students learn the types of natural resources and the basic economic activities. They then come to see the physical and economic benefits of land use and move on to explore the blue economy and coastal environment influences on the economy, and the way resources can be renewable and non-renewable.
To understand how our natural resources play an important role in shaping our way of life.
Identify how access to resources of our country have shaped the country's settlement location over time
Activities: Booklet Making showcasing items from natural resources; Picture Walks exploring renewable/non-renewable resources; Art projects building model settlements (coastal-linear, river valley-clustered, mountainous-scattered); Storytelling about early Caribbean settlements; Creating Settlement Maps
Compare past and present settlements using charts and maps, focusing on how resource use, technology, and environmental changes influence these patterns
Activities: Art and Interpretation comparing before/after photos; interactive/digital map exploration; Storytelling sessions sharing family memories; Storyboard creation illustrating settlement evolution; Elder interviews about changes
Appreciate that our resources impact where we settle
Activities: Artistic Expression (visual art, songs, poems); Simulation games (SimCity, Civilization, Minecraft Education Edition); Perspective Taking through Story Writing; Poster Making about conservation
Explain the major economic activities in your country and the importance of each to the economy
Activities: K-W-L Charts reviewing economic terms; Concept Attainment listing family jobs; categorizing into production, distribution, consumption; Critical Thinking Discussions ("Money makes the world go round"); Learning Extension interviewing family about work
Chart the types of jobs associated with various industries and predict future needs for workers
Activities: Categorizing traditional vs digital/quaternary jobs; information booklets about digital jobs and skills; picture categorization activities
Appreciate that our economic well-being is dependent on the sustainable use of our resources
Activities: Values Clarification (agree/disagree statements about resource use); film clips showing resource protection challenges
Identify major uses of land and their location, such as residential, industrial, agriculture, industry, tourism
Activities: Video viewing on Types of Land Use (7 categories: Institutional, Commercial, Transportation, Industrial, Agricultural, Parks, Residential); group discussions sharing examples
Map the location and distribution of various land uses in your country
Activities: Interactive applications (SimCity BuildIt, Township); comprehensive map creation incorporating all land-use types
Appreciate that geographic factors influence how land is used
Activities: Atlas and Google Earth activities; map drawing using legend symbols (church=Institutional, $=Commercial, car=Transportation, smokestack=Industrial, fruit/fish=Agricultural, tree=Parks, house=Residential)
Identify the diverse roles the ocean plays in supporting our country and understand the factors that threaten its health and sustainability
Activities: Flipped Classroom with ocean pollution videos; Mind Mapping covering ocean importance (Food, Animals/Plants, Weather, Fun/Adventure, Jobs, Treasures) and vulnerabilities (Pollution, Overfishing, Climate Change, Habitat Destruction, Invasive Species, Noise); TV show skit creation
Explore jobs and sectors in the blue economy, focusing on their impact on marine environments and how sustainable practices can reduce negative effects
Activities: Video exploration of blue economy; Storytelling sessions about ocean-dependent communities; "My Sustainable Beach Day" presentations and models
Identify human activities that contribute to climate change and examine how rising sea levels are impacting our coastlines
Activities: Anticipation Guide activities; video viewing on climate change effects; comprehension on Antarctica ice sheet melting; science experiments on melting ice and sea level rise
Appreciate the ways that our country is protecting the coastal and marine environment and determine additional approaches that would enhance this
Activities: Resource Person visits (Fisheries Division, fishermen); Beach Clean-up activities; Letter Writing to village councils proposing environmental measures
Describe the ways that our country meets its energy needs for electricity and transportation and explore the use of renewable sources
Activities: Community Walk-about identifying resources; Categorizing natural vs man-made resources; IT Research on resource types; Resource Products Scrapbook; Conservation Activities (World Water Use Experiment, Conservation Red Light/Green Light, craft projects from recyclables)
Assess the impact of our current energy sources on our local and global economy and environment
Activities: Field trips to geothermal plants or renewable energy projects; Compare and Contrast graphic organizers examining environmental impact, costs, scale, sustainability
Appreciate the value of renewable sources of energy (such as solar, wind, geothermal and hydroelectric) for our economy
Activities: Renewable Energy Poster Making; Scavenger Hunts finding renewable energy in community (solar panels, water tanks, turbine panels); Class Discussions on viable energy options; Renewable Energy Infographic creation
