Virginia SOL WG.2

Social Studies8th GradeResources and the Environment

SOL Standard (Skills Cluster)

The student will apply history and social science skills to evaluate the significance of natural, human, and capital resources by

Virginia Standards of Learning for History and Social Science

Cluster contents

WG.2 is a Standards of Learning history and social science standard. These are the skills expectations under it.

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students compare maps and data to identify where major resources are concentrated or scarce. They explain how resources shape jobs and land use, then judge competing viewpoints with evidence.
What Mastery Looks Like: Students can compare two regions and connect resource distribution to farming, mining, manufacturing, trade, or settlement. They can weigh economic benefits, environmental costs, and community concerns.
Common Misconceptions: Students may assume that resource-rich countries are always wealthy or that resources are spread evenly within a region. They may overlook trade, technology, government decisions, and conflicts between resource users.
How to Assess It: Give students a resource map and land-use map for one region. Ask: “How has one resource shaped economic activity and land use, and what disagreement could its use create?”

Lesson moves

Layer transparent resource, population, and land-use maps, then have pairs mark three patterns and write one supported conclusion.
Discuss or write: “Should a country limit mining if it provides jobs but damages water supplies?”
Play a region-resource matching game, then require each match to include one likely industry and one land-use effect.
Trace one classroom item, such as a phone or pencil, from raw resource location to production, trade, use, and disposal.

Keep exploring

Grade, subject, topic, and the complete cluster are prefilled. Create one free, no account needed.