Title Synopsis: In clear and eloquent language, Gary Paulsen pays tribute to a cycle of life--from seed to plant to tortilla. Workers till the black soil, operate the clanking machinery of the factory, and drive the trucks that deliver the tortillas back into the hands that will plant the yellow seeds. With Ruth Wright Paulsen’s expressive paintings, The Tortilla Factory brings forth the poetry and beauty of a simple way of life. “This title is beautiful to look at, and will also fit nicely into units on food, regional culture, art, and many other topics.”--School Library Journal

LESSON:  THE TORTILLA FACTORY

Lesson Summary

The Tortilla Factory describes, in simple and elegant language, the age-old process of making tortillas - from corn seed to finished product.

Concept:  Productive Resources

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

Comprehension Questions

Using the illustrations in the beginning of the book, list the steps and the natural, human, and capital resources needed to produce the corn for the tortilla factory.

Steps for producing corn Natural Resources Human Resources Capital Resources Work the black earth  soil workers’ labor hoe Plant yellow seeds  seeds, soil workers’ labor Dry corn  sun

What type of productive resource is the building that houses the tortilla factory?
Capital Resource

List the capital resources used in the tortilla factory. Explain the role of each capital resource.

Tortilla factory building where tortillas are produced Clank-clunking machinery mixes, pushes, squeezes, flattens, and bakes the dough boxes to transport tortillas dolly hauls boxes truck delivers tortillas

Summarize/list the steps in producing tortillas.  Name which type of productive resources is used in each step.

Production Steps Productive Resources Prepare the soil natural, human, capital Plant the seed natural, human, capital (tractor at end of story) Dry the corn natural Grind the corn into flour natural, human, capital Mix the flour into dough human, capital Shape and bake the dough human, capital Ship the tortillas human, capital

The last illustration in the book shows a tractor planting corn.  What type of productive resource is the tractor?
Capital resource

Explain how a tractor (capital resource) increases the productivity of producing tortillas.

The tractor (capital resource) enables seeds to be planted much faster than by doing it by hand (human resource).  The farm is thus more efficient in its production of corn.

Other Concepts:  producers, natural resources, human resources, capital resources, productivity

  Productive Resources 

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