Primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary sectors
Every job fits somewhere in a chain from raw material to finished idea. Tracking that chain reveals how economies develop over time.
Part of your national curriculum
- Human and physical geography: Understand economic activity in the primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary sectors, and the change in their inter-relationships in different economic settings
Lesson overview
What you'll learn in this lesson
Understand economic activity in the primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary sectors, and the change in their inter-relationships in different economic settings
Key learning points
- • Primary and secondary
- • Tertiary and quaternary
- • Changing balance
- • Global inter-relationships
This lesson at a glance
- 25 minutes
- 19 parts to scroll through
- 3 quick checks
- Marked quiz at the end
- Gentle pace: short sittings with pauses
Words to know
Scroll down — the lesson carries on below
Watch & discover
Part 1 of 19
Visual introductionPicture this
Primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary sectors
Every job fits somewhere in a chain from raw material to finished idea. Tracking that chain reveals how economies develop over time.
In a nutshell
Understand economic activity in the primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary sectors, and the change in their inter-relationships in different economic settings
Learning cycle
Part 2 of 19
Learning cycle 1 of 2
Part 1 · Primary and secondary
A short piece of teaching, then a check to make sure it has landed.
Explore the idea
Part 3 of 19
Learn
Primary and secondary
Primary industry extracts raw materials, such as fishing off Scotland or cocoa farming in Ghana. Secondary industry manufactures goods from those materials, like car assembly in Sunderland turning steel and components into vehicles.
Reset break
Part 4 of 19
Pause
That's sitting 1 of 5 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Explore the idea
Part 5 of 19
Learn
Tertiary and quaternary
Tertiary industry provides services, such as retail, teaching or healthcare. Quaternary industry involves research, design and information, such as software development in Cambridge's Silicon Fen or pharmaceutical research.
Quick check
Part 6 of 19
Quick check
Which sector involves extracting raw materials, such as fishing or farming?
Quick check
Part 7 of 19
Reset break
Part 8 of 19
Pause
That's sitting 2 of 5 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Learning cycle
Part 9 of 19
Learning cycle 2 of 2
Part 2 · Changing balance
A short piece of teaching, then a check to make sure it has landed.
Explore the idea
Part 10 of 19
Learn
Changing balance
As countries develop, employment typically shifts from primary towards secondary, then tertiary and quaternary sectors — the UK now employs over 80% of workers in services, compared to under 2% in agriculture.
Explore the idea
Part 11 of 19
Learn
Global inter-relationships
Sectors depend on each other across the world: primary materials mined in one country may be manufactured in another and sold as services or designs in a third, linking economies through global supply chains.
Reset break
Part 12 of 19
Pause
That's sitting 3 of 5 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Quick check
Part 13 of 19
Quick check
As countries develop, employment typically shifts most towards which sectors?
Challenge round
Part 14 of 19
Game · Sort it
Which of these are true?
Drag each card into the right column. Tap a card first if dragging is fiddly.
True
Not true
Challenge round
Part 15 of 19
Game · Fill the gaps
Finish the sentences
Choose the word that belongs in each gap.
____ industry extracts raw materials, such as fishing off Scotland or cocoa farming in Ghana.
____ industry manufactures goods from those materials, like car assembly in Sunderland turning steel and components into vehicles.
____ industry provides services, such as retail, teaching or healthcare.
Reset break
Part 16 of 19
Pause
That's sitting 4 of 5 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Challenge round
Part 17 of 19
Game · Recall cards
Which change made moving standard loads between ships, trains and lorries much cheaper?
Card 1 of 4
Mastery quiz
Part 18 of 19
Marked quiz
End of lesson quiz: Primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary sectors
4 questions, marked with the reasoning shown. No timer.
1. Which change made moving standard loads between ships, trains and lorries much cheaper?
2. Software design belongs mainly to which economic sector?
3. Why can trade create uneven gains?
4. Which sector does software design belong to?
Lesson round-up
Part 19 of 19
Lesson round-up
Ready when you are
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Ask LunaPart 1 of 19 · Watch & discover
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Understand economic activity in the primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary sectors, and the change in their inter-relationships in different economic settings