Social Studies: Economic Geography: Natural Resources and Trade
How resources shape production, trade, and economies
Social Studies: Economic Geography: Natural Resources and Trade
How resources shape production, trade, and economies
Social Studies - Grade 6-8
- 1
Define natural resources and give two examples that people use to make goods or produce energy.
Think about materials that come from Earth, forests, water, or underground.
Natural resources are materials found in nature that people use to meet needs and wants. Two examples are timber, which can be used to make paper and furniture, and oil, which can be used to produce fuel and other products. - 2
Explain why countries or regions trade with one another instead of making everything themselves.
Countries and regions trade because they do not all have the same resources, climate, landforms, or technology. Trade allows places to get goods they cannot easily produce and to sell goods they can make efficiently. - 3
A country has rich soil and a warm climate. Name one product it might produce in large amounts and explain why geography helps.
Match the resource and climate to farming.
One product it might produce in large amounts is crops such as bananas, rice, or coffee. Rich soil and a warm climate help plants grow well, which makes farming more productive. - 4
A region has large forests but little farmland. Describe one industry that may develop there and one good it could trade.
A wood products industry may develop in that region because forests provide a steady supply of timber. The region could trade lumber, paper, or furniture to other places. - 5
How can access to rivers, oceans, or major ports improve trade for a country or city?
Think about transportation and shipping costs.
Access to rivers, oceans, or major ports improves trade by making it easier and cheaper to move goods. Transportation by water can connect producers to distant markets and increase economic activity. - 6
A country has very little fresh water. Explain one way this shortage could affect farming and trade.
A shortage of fresh water can limit farming because crops and livestock need reliable water supplies. As a result, the country may need to import more food from other places through trade. - 7
What is the difference between importing and exporting? Use both words in your explanation.
One word means bringing in, and the other means sending out.
Importing means buying goods or resources from another country, while exporting means selling goods or resources to another country. A country might import oil and export machinery, for example. - 8
Copper is an important mineral resource. Describe one way a country with large copper deposits could benefit economically.
A country with large copper deposits could mine and sell copper to other countries, which can create jobs and bring in income. The copper could also support local industries that make wires, electronics, or building materials. - 9
Explain how mountains, deserts, or other physical barriers can make trade more difficult.
Focus on how goods move from one place to another.
Physical barriers such as mountains and deserts can make trade more difficult because they slow transportation and increase costs. Building roads, railways, or pipelines through these areas can require more time, money, and effort. - 10
Two countries trade with each other. Country A exports fish and imports wheat. Country B exports wheat and imports fish. What can you infer about the geography of these two countries?
Country A likely has access to productive fishing waters but less land or climate suitable for growing wheat. Country B likely has good farmland and conditions for growing wheat but less access to large fishing areas. - 11
Describe one positive effect and one negative effect of depending heavily on a single natural resource, such as oil or diamonds.
Think about both benefits and risks.
One positive effect is that a single valuable resource can bring in large amounts of income and jobs. One negative effect is that the economy can become vulnerable if prices fall, supplies decline, or demand changes. - 12
Write a short explanation of how natural resources, transportation, and trade are connected in economic geography.
Natural resources help determine what goods a place can produce, transportation helps move those goods to markets, and trade allows places to exchange what they have for what they need. Together, these factors shape economic relationships between regions and countries.