Classifying Earth’s Resources

Renewable, Nonrenewable and Inexhaustible

Renewable Resources

• Definition- a resource that can be replaced in a short amount of time.

Examples of Renewable Resources

• Fresh Water via the water cycle• Plants via the life cycle• Animals via the life cycle• Air via the process of photosynthesis• Soil via decomposition of matter and bacteria

Fresh WaterFor drinking

For bathing

For watering plants

For swimming

For science experiments

For brushing your teeth

For washing your hands

For cooking

For water balloon fights

Life Cycle of a Plant

Food

Medicine

Building Material

Decoration

Erosion Protectors

Oxygen Producers

Shade

Sun Protection

Animals- The Circle of LifeFood

Clothing

Entertainment

Companionship

Pollen Carriers

Seed Carriers

Medicine

Pollen Carriers

Carbon Dioxide Producers

Air Cycle- PhotosynthesisTo Breath

To Sustain Plant Life

To Make Rocks

To do Science

To Regulate Earth’s Temp.

To Make Fire

Soil

Soil is dynamic and is filled with all kinds of life… such as microbes, worms, fungi, insects, roots and more. It contains minerals and small rocks that vary in size from that of silt to pebbles. Soil also usually contains organic matter which is the decaying remnants of plant and animal life.It can take hundreds or thousands of years to make 1 inch of soil

Inexhaustible (HUH?) Resources

• Definition- resources that cannot be used up.

• Oh wait……scientists don’t classify resources an inexhaustible….so keep going with– RENEWABLE!!

Examples of MORE Renewable Resources

• Wind• Ocean Tides• Sunlight

Wind

Wind can be harnessed to store energy as electricity or used directly to pump water

Ocean Tides

The movement of the tides could be harnessed withan underwater turbine to store the energy.

Sunlight

We can use sunlight to generate electricity by using solar panelsand we already know that the sun is the energy source for the waterand for photosynthesis.

Nonrenewable Resources

• Definition- a resource that cannot be replaced in a short amount of time.

Examples of Nonrenewable Resources

• Diamonds and Precious Gems• Metal Ore• Fossil Fuels such as Coal, Oil,

and Natural Gas

Precious Gems

Metal Ore

Iron ore

Platinum ore

Fossil Fuels

What Can We Conclude About Earth’s Resources?

• How do we classify earth’s resources?• What are some examples of each type of

resource?• Should we be more careful with two types of

resources than the other one?• What can we as individuals do to help conserve

some of our most important resources?