What Do People Do?

Students will give examples of human resources that are producers, and identify goods and services produced by workers.

[Note to teachers: The activities presented in this lesson are specifically designed for kindergarten students who are just beginning to read and use the computer in the classroom. During the lesson, students will learn about goods and services, human resources and producers while working through computer based activities. The lesson can be taught as a whole group activity or in small groups. This is also a good lesson to use when introducing kindergartners to the internet. Assessment activities are included.]

1. Explain that goods are items we can use and buy. They are things we can see and feel. Services are activities we buy and use, but can’t really feel or hold. When we pay for services, we are paying for someone to do something for us.
2. Tell students that human resources are the workers who do the work to produce goods and perform services. People who produce goods and perform services are called producers.
3. Explain that in the classroom, the students are human resources. When they produce goods or perform services, they are producers. Tell them that when they use clay to make animals or crayons to draw pictures on a piece of paper, they are producers of goods, because they are making something. When students clean desks or take notes to the office for the teacher, they are performing services because they are doing something for someone else.
4. Explain that in a community workers are human resources. When they use their skills to produce goods and perform services they are called producers.
5. Explain that in this lesson students will learn about workers who produce goods and perform services. They will learn what workers produce and identify whether they are producing goods or services. Then they will identify other goods and services produced by workers.

• Give examples of human resources that are producers.
• Identify goods and services produced by workers.

• Scholastic Community Club Website: This website is the main resource that the students will use in the lesson. They will go to the site and look at the different occupations that people have and learn what people do. This is an interactive resource that includes sound and a printable worksheet.
  www.teacher.scholastic.com/commclub/

6. Direct students to the Community Club web site to learn about human resources that are producers. [Note: You might want to visit the Community Club web site previous to presenting the lesson, in order to get an idea of what the students will be doing.]

Students will have the opportunity to answer some questions at the end of each person’s job description. Have them answer the questions and then print out the webpage with the answers on it. This page will also include a “What else did you learn?” section. When they print out the page have the students fill out this section. The students may also cut out the badge that is included on the page and color it in if they wish.

You have learned about the many different things that people do. You have also learned to Identify goods and services produced by workers.

View Interactive Activity

These are the answers to the evaluation activity:

1. What are goods? [Goods are things we buy and use.]
2. What are some examples of goods? [Some examples of goods are: apples, bread, pizza, shoes, clothes, toys….]
3. What are services [Services are activities that we buy and use, but can’t really see and feel.]
4. What are some examples of services provided by a veterinarian… librarian… etc.? [answers will vary.]
5. What are producers? [Producers are anyone who makes a good or service.]
6. What are examples of producers of services? [Some examples of producers of services are: veterinarian, librarian, mayor, police officer, doctor, teacher, etc.]
7. What are examples of producers of goods? [Some examples of producers of goods are: pizza maker, baker, farmer, etc.]
8. Workers who work to produce goods and services are what type of resources? [Workers who work to produce goods and services are human resources.]