Free 4th Grade The West Region Of The Us Economy Lesson Plan (Social Studies)

Topic: The West Coast Economy

Objectives & Outcomes

• Students will understand the importance of trade in the West Coast economy.

Materials

• Computers with internet access
• Maps of the West Coast region
• Information about the major ports in the West Coast region (e.g. Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle)

Warm-up

• Ask students if they have ever traveled by plane or ship.
• Ask students if they know where the planes or ships came from and where they were going.
• Discuss the importance of trade in the global economy.

Direct Instruction

• Show a picture of a ship or plane and discuss the importance of trade in the global economy.
• Explain that the west coast of the United States has excellent ports and trade routes, making it an important region for the global economy.
• Introduce the concept of the supply chain, explaining that goods and services move through a series of steps, starting with the supplier and ending with the consumer.
• Using the handouts, discuss the different steps in the supply chain, including production, transportation, and distribution.
• Discuss examples of trade in the west coast region, such as coffee from Hawaii or fruit from California.

Guided Practice

• Divide the class into small groups and give each group a supply chain diagram.
• Have the groups identify the different steps in the supply chain and discuss examples of trade in their chosen region.
• Have each group present their findings to the class.

Independent Practice

• Have students choose one region on the west coast and research trade in that region.
• Have students create a presentation or poster about their findings, including information about the different products traded in their region and the countries or regions they come from.

Closure

• Have students share their presentations or posters with the class.
• Discuss the importance of trade in each region and how it contributes to the economy.

Assessment

• Observe students during the group activity and independent practice to evaluate their understanding of trade and its contribution to the economy.
• Collect and review their presentations or posters to assess their understanding of the west region and its economy.