©2009 abcteach.comabcteach.com Natural Resources: Vital and Invaluable

WHAT ARE NATURAL RESOURCES?  Natural resources are materials that occur in nature that are essential or useful to humans, such as water, air, land, forests, fish and wildlife, topsoil, and minerals.  Natural resources can be split up into two types: renewable and non-renewable.

RENEWABLE RESOURCE:  A resource that can be continually replaced by natural processes.  Examples: trees, fish, oxygen, and fresh water.  Examples in the classroom:

NON-RENEWABLE RESOURCE:  A resource that cannot be replaced by natural processes and therefore can be used up completely  Examples: fossil fuels (like oil, coal, and gas) and minerals.  Examples in the classroom:

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. Forests ©2009 abcteach.comabcteach.com

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. ©2009 abcteach.comabcteach.com

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. ©2009 abcteach.comabcteach.com

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? energy source? 5. In what ways are forests a good source of energy? source of energy? 6. What are the disadvantages to using forests as a source of energy? forests as a source of energy? 7. How do you use the resource of forests in your life, if at all? forests in your life, if at all? Questions About Forests ©2009 abcteach.comabcteach.com

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. ©2009 abcteach.comabcteach.com

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. ©2009 abcteach.comabcteach.com

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. ©2009 abcteach.comabcteach.com

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? ©2009 abcteach.comabcteach.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. ©2009 abcteach.comabcteach.com

Solar Energy 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. ©2009 abcteach.comabcteach.com

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. ©2009 abcteach.comabcteach.com

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. ©2009 abcteach.comabcteach.com

1. What creates or causes solar energy? energy? 2. Where can solar energy be found? found? 3. Is solar energy a renewable resource? resource? 4. How can solar energy be used as an energy source? as an energy source? 5. In what ways is solar energy a good source of energy? good source of energy? 6. What are the disadvantages to using solar energy as a source using solar energy as a source of energy? of energy? 7. How do you use the resource of solar energy in your life, if at all? solar energy in your life, if at all? Questions About Solar Energy ©2009 abcteach.comabcteach.com

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. Wind ©2009 abcteach.comabcteach.com

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. ©2009 abcteach.comabcteach.com

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. ©2009 abcteach.comabcteach.com

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? Questions About Wind ©2009 abcteach.comabcteach.com