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LESSON: APPLES FOR LIFE
Lesson
Summary:
Students will learn in this beautifully
illustrated book what it takes to produce delicious apples – from tree to
finished apples and apple products. The kinds of capital goods that
are used are amazing – from honeybee crates to helicopters!
Concept: Capital Resources
Definition: Capital Resources are goods
produced and used to make other goods or services. Common
examples are tools, machinery, equipment, and buildings.
Comprehensive
Questions
Are apples considered a good or
service?
A good
What capital resource was used to
keep the deer from eating the young apple trees?
Soap! It is
a man-made item used to produce apples.
What small capital resource does
the farmer use to make the branches spread out and make nicely shaped
trees?
Clothes pins
Why are bees important for growing
apples? Are they a capital resource?
The bees help pollinate
the apples. No – bees are a natural resource.
What capital resource do apple
farmers use to attract bees?
Wooden boxes, which function as
beehives
What kinds of capital resources do
apple farmers use to keep the air warm so the apple blossoms and tiny
apples don’t freeze?
Diesel powered wind machines, helicopters, and
oil heaters.
The author says that using a
helicopter is “costly.” What does this mean?
It means that
the farmer must pay a lot of money to use helicopters to warm his
fields.
Why would a farmer use costly
helicopters to warm his apple orchard?
If the weather is really
cold and threatens the apple crop, it is makes sense to spend a lot of
money on a helicopter. Losing the entire crop would cost the farmer
even more!
What are other examples of capital
resources in the story?
Cutting machine, apple picking bags, apple
crates for shipping apples, apple warehouse, forklift for carrying crates
of apples, trucks, etc.
What large, complex capital
resource is used to produce apple cider?
A special machine that
cuts and presses apples, saving the seeds and skins.
What kinds of goods are made from
apples? (See p.32.)
Apple butter, vinegar, applesauce, apple juice,
cider, apple pie, candy apples
Although we have concentrated on
capital resources needed to produce apples in this lesson, what are some
of the natural resources that are needed?
Sunshine,
farmland, bees, water
“Extra Credit” Question:
Usually, clothespins and soap are considered consumer goods that
people buy at the store. Why are they considered capital
goods in this story?
They are not final goods that are
purchased by consumers. Instead, the farmer uses the clothespins and
soap to produce another good – in this case, apples!
Other Concepts: Productive
Resources, Natural
Resources, Human
Resources, Producers | 
