INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION TO TO

NATURAL RESOURCESNATURAL RESOURCES

Objective:Objective:By the end of this lesson students By the end of this lesson students

will be able to know and will be able to know and understand what the 8 natural understand what the 8 natural

resources are. resources are.

Our Natural ResourcesOur Natural Resources• Resources found naturally in

nature– Cannot make more, but can be renewed

– Natural Resources essential for living• Oxygen• Water

Kinds of Natural Kinds of Natural ResourcesResources

• Wildlife• Air • Wind• Soil• Water• Minerals• Fossil Fuels• Sunlight

WildlifeWildlife• Plant, animal, and any other thing that

lives in the wild.– NOT domesticated– Examples:

Fungi

Wild flowers

Trees

Insects

Fish

Snakes

AirAir• Mixture of gases that surrounds

the earth.– Most important Natural Resource

– All living things must• Oxygen is the most important of air

Los Angeles County air exceeds EPA air pollution standards by 70%.

WindWind• Large-scale air movement across

the earth surface– Wind power is harnessing wind movement.

• Windmills and Turbines collect the power and use it to pump water, generate electricity, etc.

SoilSoil• Material that supports all living

things – Naturally occurring resource

– Basis for all living things– Plants need soil to grow– Animals eat plants– Remains decay and become soil again

– Damaged and lost by erosion

WaterWater• Colorless, transparent, odorless,

tasteless liquid that forms the seas, lakes, rivers, and rain

• All living things must

– Only natural resource found in 3 forms– Solid (ice)– Liquid (water)– Gas (vapor)

– Flowing water can be used as a power source

MineralsMinerals• Natural inorganic substance on

or in the earth.– INORGANIC SUBSTANCE

• Does not have the structure of living things, does not contain carbon.

– Examples:• Iron• Precious Metals (Copper, Gold, Silver,

Nickel)• Granite, Sand, Gravel

Fossil FuelsFossil Fuels• Materials used to provide

energy– Created by the decomposition of plants

and animals

– Three main groups:– Petroleum (gas, oil, plastics)– Natural Gas– Coal

SunlightSunlight• Light and warmth of the sun

– Produces solar energy

– Used by plants in photosynthesis

– Life on earth depends on sunlight

Assignment Assignment • You will make a chart of all 8

Natural Resources and how they are important to you – Must have:

• The name of all the Natural Resources • Picture of it • Why it is important to you

– They must be in color and neatly done

RenewabilityRenewability• Whether or not a resource can

be restored after it has been used.

• Basis for classifying natural resources:– Renewable

– Nonrenewable

Renewable ResourcesRenewable Resources• Can be replaced when used.

– Resource may renew itself and be used again, but renewing may take a long time

– Examples• Air• Soil• Wildlife• Plants• Water

Nonrenewable Nonrenewable ResourcesResources

• Can not be replaced when used.– With careful management, some can be

reused.

– Examples • Minerals (Gold, Silver)• Fossil Fuels (Oil and Coal)

A nonrenewable resource is a natural resource that is present in limited supplies and depleted by use. It's basically a limited resource that we are extracting from the ground faster than it can replenish itself. (9) Examples of nonrenewable resources are copper, gold, silver, zinc, aluminum, coal, oil and natural gas.

ExhaustibilityExhaustibility• Whether or not the supply of a

resource is replenished as it is used.

• Some resources can be replenished; others cannot be replenished.

Inexhaustible ResourcesInexhaustible Resources• Resources that are continually

being replenished.– Examples:

• Sunlight• Air & Wind• Water

Exhaustible ResourcesExhaustible Resources• Resources that are available in

limited quantity that can be used up.– Examples:

• Minerals• Fossil Fuels• Soil (replaced so slowly)

Words to know and rememberas you consider what

resources are renewable

InfiniteNo limitsExtending

indefinitely

FiniteLimited

Having a limited existence

ConservationConservation• Using resources wisely.

– Resources are not abused, wasted nor destroyed.

– “Wise” is using a resource in ways that do not diminish its value and assure that supplies will be available for future generations.

• SUSTAINABLE RESOURCE USE is using resources so they last a long time.

PreservationPreservation• Maintaining a natural resource

without using it up.– Resource is protected.– Set aside for future use.– People can view the resource, but cannot

harvest, mine or otherwise take it.– Examples:

• Wildlife Preserves and Refuges• Old Growth Forests protected from cutting

Earth's natural resources need to stay healthy too!

Assignment Assignment • You and a partner will make a list of all

the resources that can be either: – Preserved

– Sustainable

– Conserved

– Exhausted

– Inexhaustible

• Then you will explain why they are one of the five categories above and can they be renewed or are they nonrewable.

WATER- inexhaustible Renewed

To clean the atmosphere and the environment, and to nourish plants and animals.

SOIL- exhaustible Renewed

To filter the water, provide nourishment for plants and some animals, and recycle material to be used again.

PLANTS AND TREES- exhaustible To absorb carbon from the atmosphere and release oxygen.To supply food and medicine, and provide shelter for plants and animals.

ATMOSPHERENonrewable Air surrounding the planet containing nitrogen, oxygen, water vapor, other gases, and many tiny particles.

To protect life on the planet, shielding it from harmful radiation from the sun.To provide a blanket of warmth around the planet.