Products, industries, and resources… oh my!
Virginia’s economic activities at home and abroad can be overwhelming for students to take in. Our state has a lot of products and industries in each region that they must memorize. But, have no fear! I have many fun Virginia’s economy activities that not only help them memorize economic resources in each region, but also get them excited about the products and industries offered in their state.
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Sort Virginia’s Products and Industries
Your Virginia’s economy unit is the perfect time for sorts… word sorts, visual sorts, foldables… there are so many possibilities!
Sorts can be used to differentiate products and industries, types of services, or types of resources. Sorts can also be used to review Virginia geography by organizing products and industries by region.
Create Virginia Products and Industries Brochures
Using a wide variety of Virginia’s economy activities is also a good way to help students memorize the products and industries.
Another products and industries activity I use is a brochure project. In this assignment, students create a brochure that highlights each of Virginia’s regions. They include information about the region’s geography and the products and industries found in the region.
This is a good activity to help students make connections regarding why specific products and industries are available in specific regions. For example, seafood is a popular product in the Coastal Plain region because of its location next to the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Ocean.
Incorporate Math into Your Virginia Studies Lessons
I am always to for ways to integrate math into my Virginia Studies lessons. The Virginia’s economy unit provides many opportunities for students to create graphs.
One graphing activity I use involves reviewing the meaning and examples of natural, human, and capital resources. Students look for as many examples as they can find of each in their classroom. Then, they create a bar graph with their findings.
Similar activities can also be completed using Virginia’s products and industries.
Use Virginia Maps
If you haven’t already noticed, you can easily review the Virginia Studies geography SOLs during your Virginia’s economy activities.
You can find a variety of maps online that show product distribution throughout the state of Virginia. You can also use a variety of activities that have students identify the products and industries associated with each Virginia region.
Virginia Studies Review Activities
The final day of teaching this SOL always involves a variety of Virginia’s economy activities to help students review and prepare for their unit test.
Virginia’s Economy Task Cards
One of my favorite task card games is a scavenger hunt. For this game–
- Place your cards at different locations around the room. It is up to you to decide whether the cards are placed openly or hidden.
- For each task card, write the corresponding numbers on pieces of paper, fold the papers, and put them in a basket.
- Each student will draw a number. Then, they must find the task card with the same number. When they find the correct card, they should write the response to the question on their task card recording sheet and then return the card to the same location where they found it.
- Students should continue selecting numbers from the basket and searching for cards until they find all the task cards.
I have a Virginia’s Economy Task Cards resource. The resource has 28 task cards that feature the types of questions that students will see on the Virginia Studies SOL test. Question types include multiple choice, multiple select, matching, and labeling a map. The resource includes a PDF version and a self-checking digital version for Google Forms.
You can find a complete list of games to play with task cards HERE!
Virginia’s Economy Escape Room
It is no secret that I love using classroom escape rooms to teach Virginia Studies. I explain more about using classroom escape rooms to make history hands-on HERE.
My Virginia’s Economy Escape Room includes five challenges that incorporate math and critical thinking skills. As students complete each puzzle, they are reviewing important information related to the Virginia Studies SOL.
I continue to use escape rooms to review Virginia Studies because I frequently hear students discuss how much they enjoy these activities. Anytime a student is having fun learning, they are more likely to remember what they are learning.
At-Home Virginia Studies Review
Don’t forget to give students a study guide, so they can keep reviewing the SOL at home!
My Virginia’s Economy Study Guide includes three versions– one completed study guide, one for student completion with review worksheets, and one digital study guide. It also has 10 short-response questions that model the critical thinking questions on the SOL test.
Where to Find Virginia Studies Resources…
The activities described can be replicated in your classroom, but I know planning time is limited. If you’re short on time, I’ve got you covered! You can find all of my Virginia’s economy activities and lessons in my store, including:
- Virginia’s Economy Unit: My unit includes detailed lesson plans, passages and comprehension questions, worksheets, digital activities, and assessments.
- Virginia’s Economy Task Cards
- Virginia’s Economy Escape Room
- Virginia’s Economy Study Guide
All of my Virginia Studies resources are also bundled together for a discounted price.
- Virginia Studies Curriculum Bundle: Includes all of my Virginia Studies unit plans.
- Virginia Studies Task Cards Bundle
- Virginia Studies Escape Rooms Bundle
- Virginia Studies Study Guides Bundle
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