1. Natural resources

2. Some resources are not needed for survival, but are still important.
Key natural resources
Water
Food
Timber
Natural fibres
Metals
Fossil fuels
Natural resources are resources found in the environment that are used by people, plants and animals.
Some resources are more important than others. For example, people need food and water to survive.
Some resources are not needed for survival, but are still important.

3. Water
Water is found in our lakes, rivers, streams, oceans, snow caps and glaciers.
Fresh water is a valuable resource.
Fresh water is a natural resource and is essential for all life on earth.
Fresh water can be polluted, making it unusable for drinking.

4. Food Without food, people and animals will not survive.
People eat plants and animals. Animals eat other animals or plants. Without plants, animals and people would not survive.
The right conditions are needed for food to grow.
Plants need fresh water, sunlight and soil rich in nutrients. Animals need water and other foods.

5. Timber
‘Timber’ is
what parts of trees are called when they are cut down and used by people.
Timber has been used by humans for thousands of years.
People use timber for building materials and tools because it is solid and lasts a long time.
It can also been burned as a fuel.
Trees grow slowly, making timber a valuable resource.

6. Natural fibres
These are plant and animal products that often produce long, thin strands.
Fibres are used to make clothing, ropes and building materials.
Examples of common fibres are cotton, flax and wool.

7. Metals Some metals are very rare.
Metals come from the ground.
They can be found naturally, e.g. gold, or they may need to be developed by people, e.g. iron.
Some metals are very rare.
There are 86 different types of metals, all of which have different uses. Some are soft and flexible and some are strong and hard.
Today, metals are used everywhere. They are in buildings, computers and are even used to repair broken bones.

8. Fossil fuels These are fuels that come from under the ground.
They are called fossil fuels because they are made from very old plant and animal material which can take millions of years to form.
Examples of fossil fuels include coal, oil and gas.
They are used by people as an energy source.
There is only a limited amount of fossil fuels left.

9. Currently in Australia, much of our land is used to grow and mine natural resources. Which part of Australia produces the most natural resources?

10. Natural resources are everywhere!
Because they are all around us, we use them for many things

11. We are clever …
… natural resources are everywhere. We take these raw materials and turn them into amazing things. For example: Wheat by itself is not tasty or especially nutritious. However …
… wheat turned into flour + yeast + water = bread!
Processed
Unprocessed
Processed /

12. Natural resources around you

13. What are the main natural materials in the following products?
Metal
Fibres
Fossil fuels
Timber
Fibres
Metal

14. Using natural resources
Today, people use natural resources to create many products: everything from plastics (made from oil) to cotton grown on farms.
Resources can be classed as renewable or non-renewable.
Renewable resource = sustainable.
Non-renewable resource = unsustainable.
To ‘renew’ means that it can be regrown or remade.

15. Renewing resources Sustainable Unsustainable Renewable Non-renewable
If a tree is cut down, a seed can be planted to grow a new tree.
If all of the gold from the earth is found and used, there will be no new gold for many millions of years!
Sustainable
Unsustainable

16. Renewable or non-renewable?
Water
Food
Timber
Natural fibres
Metals
Fossil fuels

17. Reflect on the sustainability of natural resources
Think about the products that we use in our day-to-day lives.
Which should we use more of: renewable or non-renewable resources? Why?

18. Attributions
Slide 1:
Cotton field
Beef cattle
Timber
USGS, Coal
Wheat
Slide 3:
Drop
Bubbles
Slide 4:
Healthy
Cows
Slide 5:
Wood icon
Slide 6:
Grass
Sheep

19. Slide 7:
Metal
Gold
Chain
Slide 8:
Coal lorry
USGS, Coal
Gas flame
Slide 11:
Wheat
Flour
Bread rolls
Slide 13:
Red car
Woollen jumper
Timber house
Slide 15:
Sprout
Gold
All other images © DETE.