Economic Activities
Primary 6 · Social and Religious Studies
Economic Activities
Lesson 4 of 4
15 min
Let's begin
In one village, people cut down every tree on the hill to make charcoal. For a few years they earned good money. Then the rains washed the soil away, the spring dried up, and nothing would grow.
In the next village, farmers planted trees between their crops, dug terraces, and sold fruit, honey and timber year after year. Which village chose sustainable development?
Development means life getting better for people: more food, better homes, schools, health care, roads and jobs. Sustainable development means meeting our needs today without spoiling the land, water and air that our children and grandchildren will need tomorrow.
| Activity | Possible harm | A sustainable way |
|---|---|---|
| Farming | Soil erosion on steep hills; cutting forests for new fields | Terraces, agroforestry, crop rotation, compost and manure |
| Fishing | Overfishing with illegal nets that catch young fish | Legal net sizes, fishing seasons, fish farming |
| Mining | Open pits, muddy rivers, cut trees | Keep dirty water out of rivers; fill old pits and plant trees |
| Tourism | Litter; disturbing wild animals | Eco-tourism: small groups and strict rules, such as only one hour with the gorillas |
| Charcoal making | Cutting too many trees | Improved cookstoves, gas, and planting fast-growing trees |
| Trade and transport | Plastic waste and smoke | The plastic bag ban, recycling, electric motos and buses |
A real example: fish catches on Lake Kivu fell from 24,199 tonnes in 2017–2018 to 16,194 tonnes in 2019–2020. Officials blamed fishing methods that stop young fish from growing and breeding.
Worked example
By how much did the Lake Kivu fish catch fall?
Step 1 Take the smaller number from the bigger one: 24,199 − 16,194.
Step 2 24,199 − 16,194 = 8,005.
Answer: the catch fell by 8,005 tonnes, about a third. Sustainable fishing would protect the young fish so that catches stay high.
Tip
Earn today, keep for tomorrow. Before any activity, ask: "Will my grandchildren still be able to do this?" If the answer is yes, it is sustainable.
What is sustainable development?
Answer: meeting our needs today without spoiling the environment that future people will need.
Give two ways economic activities help Rwanda develop.
Answer: any two of creating jobs, raising family income, reducing poverty, earning foreign exchange, paying taxes, providing raw materials.
Name one harmful effect of mining and one solution.
Answer: for example, mud flowing into rivers; keep dirty water out of rivers and replant old mine sites.
Why is limiting gorilla visits to one hour a sustainable rule?
Answer: it protects the gorillas from stress and disease, so they stay healthy and tourism can continue for years.
What you learned today
Sources and credits
The practice questions were written by Ganzaa.
This lesson adapts CC BY-SA material and is shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Quick check
Which sentence best explains sustainable development?
