Natural
Resources:
Vital and
Invaluable
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Forests
A forest is any area with a lot of
trees. There are forests all over the
world. The type of forest varies
depending on the location of the
forest: for example, there are
tropical rain forests, coniferous
forests, and deciduous forests.
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Forests
Forests occur naturally, but they
can be affected positively and
negatively by human behavior. If
a forest is carefully replanted
and allowed to grow, it can exist
in balance. If the forest is cut
down faster than it can grow
back, then it will be used up
quickly.
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Forests
Forests serve as home to
many of the organisms
that live on the land.
Forests are also very
important because they
are major contributors to
recycling and cleaning
the world supply of
oxygen. Forests also
provide wood, which is
useful both as a
construction material
and as a fuel source.
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Questions About
Forests
1. What is a forest?
2. Where can forests be found?
3. Are forests a renewable resource?
4. How can forests be used as an
energy source?
5. In what ways are forests a good
source of energy?
6. What are the disadvantages to using
forests as a source of energy?
7. How do you use the resource of
forests in your life, if at all?
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Answers to
Forests
1. What is a forest?
A forest is an area with a lot of trees.
2. Where can forests be found?
Forests can be found all over the world.
3. Are forests a renewable resource?
Yes, if they are carefully replanted and
allowed to grow. If it is cut down faster
than it can grow, then it is not renewable.
4. How can forests be used as an energy
source?
The wood can be burned for fuel.
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Answers to
Forests
5. In what ways are forests a good source
of energy?
It can be renewable.
6. What are the disadvantages to using
forests as a source of energy?
It pollutes; cutting down trees takes away
animal homes and affects the oxygen in
the world.
7. How do you use the resource of forests
in your life, if at all?
Answers will vary.
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Fossil Fuels
Fossil fuels take millions of
years to form. They are the
product of the fossilized
remains of dead plants and
animals that have been
exposed to the heat and
pressure deep within the
earth’s crust. There are many
types of fossil fuels, such as
petroleum (gasoline), natural
gas, and coal.
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Fossil Fuels
Fossil fuels are arguably
one of the most valuable
natural resources in
modern times. It is
estimated that 86 percent of
the world’s energy comes
directly from burning fossil
fuels. Fossil fuels are the
source of energy for almost
every machine, including
the generators that produce
electric energy.
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Fossil Fuels
Because fossil fuels take so
long to form, they are being
consumed faster than they
can be produced. Fossil
fuels are a major contributor
to air pollution because
when they are burned they
release many dangerous
gases such as nitrogen
dioxide, methane, and
carbon dioxide.
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Questions About
Fossil Fuels
1. What creates or causes fossil
fuels?
2. Where can fossil fuels be found?
3. Are fossil fuels a renewable
resource?
4. How can fossil fuels be used as an
energy source?
5. In what ways are fossil fuels a good
source of energy?
6. What are the disadvantages to
using fossil fuels as a source of
energy?
7. How do you use the resource of
fossil fuels in your life, if at all?
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Answers
to
Fossil
Fuels
1. What creates or causes fossil fuels?
Fossil fuels are the product of the fossilized
remains of dead plants and animals that
have been exposed to the heat and pressure.
2. Where can fossil fuels be found?
They are found deep within the earth’s crust.
3. Are fossil fuels a renewable resource?
No. Theoretically they are, but as they take
so long to form they cannot possibly be
replaced at the rate they are consumed.
4. How can fossil fuels be used as an energy
source?
They are burned to create energy.
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Answers
about
Fossil
Fuels
5. In what ways are fossil fuels a good
source of energy?
They are currently producing 86% of the
world’s energy.
6. What are the disadvantages to using
fossil fuels as a source of energy?
They pollute, they are not renewable.
7. How do you use the resource of fossil
fuels in your life, if at all?
Answers will vary.
©2009 abcteach.com
Solar
Energy
The sun is the closest
star to Earth. It brings
heat and light to the
world. Some areas of
the world, such as
those closest to the
equator, have more
sun than others.
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The sun shines naturally
but it is not affected by
human activity. It cannot
be used up. However, its
intensity varies with the
seasons, and it is not
available at night.
Solar Energy
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Solar Energy
The sun’s rays are used
for energy by organisms
that undergo
photosynthesis. Nearly
every organism on the
planet gets energy
through photosynthesis,
directly or indirectly.
There are also ways that
people can utilize the
energy that the sun
provides.
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Solar
Energy
We can use solar
power in simple
(facing the sun to get
warm, using
greenhouses to grow
food, etc.) and more
complex (solar panels
for heating) ways.
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Questions About
Solar Energy
1. What creates or causes solar
energy?
2. Where can solar energy be
found?
3. Is solar energy a renewable
resource?
4. How can solar energy be used
as an energy source?
5. In what ways is solar energy a
good source of energy?
6. What are the disadvantages to
using solar energy as a source
of energy?
7. How do you use the resource of
solar energy in your life, if at all?
©2009 abcteach.com
Answers to
Solar Energy
1. What creates or causes solar
energy?
Solar energy comes from the sun.
2. Where can solar energy be
found?
It can be found anywhere on Earth,
in greater concentration closer to
the equator.
3. Is solar energy a renewable
resource?
Yes, it cannot be used up.
4. How can solar energy be used
as an energy source?
It can be used for warmth, for light,
and via solar panels to generate
electricity.
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Answers on
Solar Energy
5. In what ways is solar energy a
good source of energy?
It is renewable, it doesn’t cause
pollution.
6. What are the disadvantages to
using solar power as a source
of energy?
It doesn’t work at night.
7. How do you use the resource of
solar energy in your life, if at
all?
Answers will vary.
©2009 abcteach.com
Wind
Wind is caused by
the uneven heating
of the atmosphere.
Some areas of the
world, such as costal
regions, have more
wind than others
because the terrain
of the area is
relatively flat and
has few obstacles to
block the wind from
blowing.
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Wind
The wind blows naturally – it is not
caused by human activity, and it
cannot be used up.
The power of the wind drives
sailboats. It has been used to
power windmills that grind grain.
Windmills can also use the circular
movement of the blades to turn a
turbine. This is increasingly used
as a means of generating
electricity.
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Wind
Wind power does not make
greenhouse gas emissions.
It does not directly cause
pollution. However, critics
of wind power say a large
number of windmills could
cause problems for
animals, especially
migratory birds. Some
people think the windmills
are unattractive.
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Questions About
Wind
1. What creates or causes wind?
2. Where can wind be found?
3. Is wind a renewable resource?
4. How can wind be used as an energy
source?
5. In what ways is wind a good source of energy?
6. What are the disadvantages to using wind as a
source of energy?
7. How do you use the resource of wind in your
life, if at all?
©2009 abcteach.com
Answers to
Wind
1. What creates or causes wind?
Wind is caused by the uneven heating of the
atmosphere.
2. Where can wind be found?
It can be found everywhere, though it is greater in
coastal regions and other relatively flat terrains.
3. Is wind a renewable resource?
Yes, because it cannot be used up.
4. How can wind be used as an energy source?
Wind can power windmills to power turbines to make
electricity.
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Answers to
Wind (cont.)
5. In what ways is wind a good source of energy?
It doesn’t cause pollution and it is renewable.
6. What are disadvantages to using wind as a
source of energy?
It could hurt some animals and some people think the
windmills are ugly.
7. How do you use the resource of wind in your life,
if at all?
Answers will vary.
©2009 abcteach.com
Related
Material
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• Natural Resources Posters
• Classroom Makeover: Amazon Rain Forest
• Color Your Own: Pinwheels
• Create Your Own Sun Stories
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