Natural Resource
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Natural resources are anything we take from the earth and use. Examples or
natural resources are oil, minerals, water, plants, animals, rocks and the air we
breathe.
Natural resources can be categorized into three different groups – renewable,
nonrenewable, and inexhaustible.
Some natural resources will eventually be used up so conservation of these
resources is very important.
Questions:
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What are natural resources?
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What will happen if we waste natural resources?
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What natural resources do the following things come from?
o Paper
o Plastic
o Hamburger meat
o Lettuce
o Leather
Fossil Fuels
Coal, Oil, Natural Gas
 Fossil fuels are materials that come from the decayed remains of dead
plants and animals that are burned to produce energy. Oil
(petroleum), coal, and natural gas are the three major fossil fuels.
 Oil/petroleum is used to make gasoline, diesel fuel, jet fuel and
plastics.
 Coal is burned in factories and power plants to make energy.
 Natural gas is used for cooking.
 Chemical energy is stored inside plants and animals. When these
organisms die, they are buried under particles of sand, soil and mud.
Over millions of years these layers are pressed and cemented together
to form solid rock. This traps the dead plants and animals in the rock
layers. Heat and pressure change the remains into oil, coal, and
natural gas.
 Fossil fuels are categorized as nonrenewable resources because it
takes millions of years for them to form.
 People use fossil fuels much more quickly than they are made.
Questions
 What are the three fossil fuels?
 Why are fossil fuels considered nonrenewable resources?
 Where do fossil fuels come from?
 How are fossil fuels formed?
Renewable Resource
 Renewable resources are those that nature produces again and again.
Examples of renewable resources include plants, animals, water,
oxygen, and soil
 Many of these resources go through some sort of cycle and can be
replaced in a lifetime.
 If used carefully, we will not run out of these resources.
 These resources can be polluted (air and water) or contaminated (soil).
It is important for people to try to protect these resources from
pollution and contamination.
Questions:
 What does renewable resource mean?
 What are some examples of renewable resources?
Nonrenewable Resource
 Nonrenewable resources are resources that cannot be replaced or take
thousands to millions of years to form.
 Examples of nonrenewable resources include fossil fuels (oil, coal,
and natural gas) and minerals.
 Minerals include silver, copper, gold, diamonds, and other gemstones.
 It takes thousands to millions of years for these resources to form and
therefore could be completely used up if we do not use them carefully.
Questions:
 What is a nonrenewable resource?
 Give some examples of nonrenewable resources.
 Why are some resources considered nonrenewable?
Inexhaustible Resource
 Inexhaustible resources are those that have an unlimited supply. They
will not be used up.
 Examples of inexhaustible resources include wind, sunlight and ocean
tides.
 The heat energy from the sun warms the land and water of earth at
different rates. This uneven warming causes winds.
 The gravitational interaction between the moon and earth causes
ocean tides.
Questions:
 What is an inexhaustible resource?
 Give some examples of inexhaustible resources.
 What causes wind?
 What causes ocean tides?
Conserve, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
 Conservation is the wise use and protection of natural resources.
 To conserve resources, we can follow the slogan “Reduce, Reuse,
Recycle”.
 We can cut back on the amount of natural resources we use – reduce.
 We can use some things over and over again – reuse.
 We can turn used resources into new products – recycle.
 It is also important to protect wildlife and their habitats. Over
hunting, over fishing, pollution and loss of habitat all put plant and
animal species in danger of becoming extinct.
Questions:
 What does it mean to conserve our natural resources?
 What are some things you can do to conserve natural resources?