The Life and Times of the Peanut  by Charles Micucci
Houghton Mifflin Company
32 pages
ISBN 0-395-72289-6

Summary:
The history and agriculture of the peanut are described. The book also describes many foods made from peanuts.

Concept: Productive Resources

Definition: Productive resources are the natural, human, and capital resources that are used to produce goods and services.

Comprehension Questions:

Identify the natural resources required to grow peanuts as a crop. (fertile soil, water, warm climate)

Identify the capital resources used to harvest peanuts on large farms. (tractor, digger, shaker, inverter, combine, drying wagon)

Identify human resources required to produce peanuts. (farmers, truck drivers, factory workers)

Describe how the peanut is a versatile product. (There are many possible answers. The peanut can be eaten by itself or used in a variety of foods. It can be squeezed into peanut oil and processed into a variety of products, such as soap.)

Compare the first peanut farms to those of today.
(South American Indians - human resources; - gathered wild peanuts - natural resources. Later, Indians grew their own peanuts from seed using simple capital resources - hoe, baskets, trench, etc.) Today, farmers - human resources - grow peanuts from seed using specialized machinery - capital resources).

Other Concepts: Natural Resources, Capital Resources, Human Resources, Productivity, Producers

(From KidsEcon Posters©: www.kidseconposters.com)