In addition to concepts, textbooks contain other important social studies statements called generalizations. Read the following passage on economic content from a sample fourth-grade social studies textbook. Each sentence has been numbered to simplify answering the questions following the passage. Be certain to record your answers because, later in this chapter, you are asked to do additional reflection and to refer to your initial thoughts about this passage.
(1) Have you ever thought about where the things we buy come from?
(2) In the kitchen you have products such as baking soda and salt.
(3) In the bathroom you might find products such as shampoo and shaving cream.
(4) You might also find products such as aspirin.
(5) When you go home today, look at the products in the kitchen and in the bathroom.
(6) How many are brand-name items?
(7) These are items you see advertised on television or in the newspaper.
(8) How many are generic or store-brand items?
(9) These are items you find only in a certain store. (10) Or they are items that are not advertised but are sold in several stores.
(11) Make a list for each kind of item.
(12) Which is more common among your items, generic or brand-name products?
(13) When you get back to school, find a partner and share your lists.
(14) Which is more common among your partner's items, generic or brand-name products?
(15) Which is more common when the items you both have are put together, generic or brand-name products?
(16) Think about the products you both use and those that other people you know use.
(17) Do you think generic or brand-name products are more widely used in your community?
(18) Why do you think this type of product is more frequently used in your community?
