Earth’s Resources:
soil, rocks, minerals, trees,
plants, and water
by Denise Carroll
Who Studies Soil and Rocks?
• A geologist is a scientist who studies the
layers of soil, rocks, and minerals that
make up the earth’s surface.
Natural Resources
• A natural resource is something found in
nature that people can use to meet their
needs. Natural resources are not manmade. Here are some natural resources…
- rocks
- coal
- water
- soil
- trees
- plants
- air
- oil
- minerals
• We will learn about some of these natural
resources.
Soil, Rocks, and Minerals are
Natural Resources
• Soil is the loose top layer of the earth’s
surface. All soil comes from rocks and
minerals.
• A rock is a natural solid made of one or
more minerals.
• Minerals are natural solids usually formed
as crystals that are found in rocks. All
rocks are made of one or more minerals.
Soil is a Natural Resource
• Although many of us don't think about the
ground beneath us or the soil that we walk
on each day, the truth is soil is a very
important resource.
• Think of the Earth as an egg. The shell is
a very thin layer. Soil is the thin layer of
the Earth’s surface.
Can you think of any reasons to
study soil?
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We use the soil to grow our food.
Some animals graze on it.
Other animals live in the ground.
We dig deep into the ground for our water
wells.
• I'm sure you can think of many more
reasons to study soil….
3 Types of Soil
• Sand – rough, gritty, won’t form a ball
• Silt – smooth like flour, not sticky or shiny.
• Clay – soft, shiny, sticky when wet, forms ball,
stains hands.
• When clay is heated, it hardens to make bricks
and pottery.
People Use Soil
• People need soil to grow food.
• People use soil to make adobe bricks to
build things with.
Rocks are Natural Resources
• A rock is a natural solid
made of one or more
minerals.
Where to
Find Rocks
A quarry is an open pit.
Properties of Rocks and Minerals
Rocks can be classified by how they look and feel.
Color, texture, and hardness are properties we look
for in a rock or mineral.
• Color
•Hardness is tested by
scratching a rock with
your fingernail, a penny,
and a nail.
• Texture is how much sand, silt,
or clay is in the soil. Does it
feel gritty, sticky, smooth, silky,
moist, or dry?
People Use Rocks
• People use rocks to build houses and
roads.
• People use rocks to make walls and
walkways.
• People use rocks to make sculptures.
Most sculptures are made by carefully
chipping away rock and making it smooth
or rough.
Mount Rushmore
• Mount Rushmore shows the faces of four
great presidents: George Washington,
Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt,
and Abraham Lincoln.
• From 1927 to 1941, 400
workers sculpted this
memorial to represent
the first 150 years of
American history.
• It is located in Keystone, South Dakota.
Minerals are Natural Resources
• Minerals are natural solids usually
formed as crystals that are found in rocks.
All rocks are made of one or more
minerals.
Plants are Natural Resources
• Plants have many uses…
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They make surroundings more beautiful.
Trees are used for wood to build houses and make furniture.
Trees are also used to make paper.
Fabric is made from plants, like cotton.
Branches from plants are used for fuel to make a fire.
Plants are used for food: fruits, vegetables and grains.
Plants are used to make cooking oils, herbs, and spices for
seasoning foods.
– Plants are also used to make medicines.
– Some plants are even used to make rubber for tires.
Water is a Natural Resource
Our supply of water will never run out. Water
covers about 70% of the Earth. Remember,
water is always being recycled.
• People use water in many ways…
– People, plants, and animals need water to live.
– People use water for drinking and cooking.
– Water is used for having fun, to swim or cool-off.
– Water is also used for bathing and cleaning things.
Congratulations!
• You have learned that soil, rocks, minerals,
plants, and water are natural resources.
• You have also learned how people use rocks,
soil, plants, and water.
Would you like
to be a geologist?
Resources
• http://images.search.yahoo.com
• http://office.microsoft.com/clipart