1. Virginia’s natural Resources
Please keep an eye on the clock. The presentation should take about minutes to allow time for the activity.
There are questions posed to the students. To stay on track, you may have to limit the number of answers.
Some notes have been included for background or reference. They do not have to be shared, they are simply a tool.
Ask students to sit on the carpet.
Ask volunteers to set up the activity during the presentation.
Thank you for making Amazing Earth possible!
Updated 10/1/19
Virginia’s natural Resources
4th grade amazing earth - October

2. What is a natural resource?
Things found in nature (not made by man) AND THEY are useful to people
ASK the students “what is a natural resources?”
ADVANCE to reveal answer

3. What TYPES OF natural resources are there?
People need some natural resources to stay alive, such as light, air and water
Other natural resources are used to make better lives
ASK the students to identify types of natural resources
ADVANCE to reveal answer

4. What Resources do we have in Virginia?
Water
Minerals
Forests
Soil and land
ASK the students to list what resources we have in Virginia
ADVANCE to reveal answer
SAY "Let’s talk about each resource in more detail on the next slides”

5. Virginia’s water Chesapeake Bay, Rivers, Lakes, Atlantic Ocean
transport goods, provide drinking water, source for food and recreation
Chesapeake Bay
an estuary: a body of water where fresh and salt water mix. It is the largest in the US and third largest in the world.
5 major rivers: Shenandoah-Potomac, rappahannock, York and james
Lake Drummond – largest natural freshwater lake; most other lakes in VA are man-made
James River
Review quickly to keep pace
Lake Drummond
Chesapeake Bay

6. Virginia’s Minerals Coal, Limestone/Granite, Sand/Gravel
Coal - mined in mountains in SouthWest Virginia and used as fuel to generate electricity
Limestone/Granite - dug from deep pits (quarries) and used as building materials
Sand/Gravel - dug from quarries and used in building materials and road construction
SAY: Minerals are valuable resources under the ground. They are not useable until they have been mined.
ASK: Can you name a mineral that is mined to use as a resource?
ADVANCE to reveal answers.

7. Virginia’s Forests provide wood for many industries
construction and furniture
Wood pulp is used in paper products
Virginia’s timber resources are mostly collected from cultivated forests (not wild) that have been planted And grown by tree farmers
Review quickly to keep pace
Once these VA tree farmers cut down trees to sell, they will replant more trees to grow

8. Virginia’s Soil & Land
Virginia has large areas of fertile, productive land
Farmers produce a wide variety of crops:
Soybeans
Corn/wheat
Hay
Tobacco
cotton
Apples
Peanuts
Review quickly to keep pace

9. What is Renewable vs. Non-Renewable?
SOURCES THAT ARE NATURALLY REPLENISHED ON A USABLE TIMESCALE
SUNLIGHT
WATER
AIR
TREES
SOURCES THAT WILL RUN OUT OR NOT BE REPLENISHED IN A LIFETIME – OR EVEN IN MANY, MANY LIFETIMES
MOSTLY FOSSIL FUELS:
COAL
PETROLEUM
NATURAL GAS
ALSO STONE & GEMS
SAY:
We’ve talked about the types of natural resources.
Resources can be broken down into two categories: renewable and non-renewable.
ASK: can you explain what renewable or non-renewable mean?
ADVANCE TO REVIEW ALL INFO
In some states or countries a resource may or may not be easily renewable. For example, water is easily renewable in VA but not in a CA.
WHETHER A RESOURCE IS RENEWABLE OR NON-RENEWABLE WE DON’T WANT TO WASTE IT. WE NEED TO BE GOOD CARETAKERS AND GET THE MOST FROM IT THAT WE NEED

10. MINING EXPERIMENT You and a Partner own a Coal Mining Business.
Your “Coal Mine” is a Chocolate Chip Cookie.
Goal is to Make Money (Profit) with the Resources Available AND Be a Good Caretaker.
Your “Resources” are Chocolate Chips.
You and a Partner will “Mine” your Cookie for the Chocolate Chips.
Using the Worksheet, you will Calculate your Mining Costs, Money Made, Impact on the Environment and whether your Company had a Profit or Loss.
While the students are still seated on the floor, explain the activity.
SAY: There quite a few details to this activity but it’s fun. Please pay attention so we can get started quickly!

11. money decisions & the worksheet
Team decides which one mine to buy:
Chips AHOY - $3
Chips DELUXE - $5
Team decides which mining tool(s) to buy:
No using hands. Can buy more than one tool toothpick — $2
Paper clip — $6
Mining costs - $1 per minute (5 minute max)
One chip mined - $3 earned
must combine several Broken chips to make one whole chip
Teams record their costs & money earned

12. good caretaker Mining has a big impact on the environment.
Part of being a good caretaker is cleaning up and restoring the land that has been mined to a natural or usable state.
this process is called “reclamation.”

13. rules & info Determine the mine’s size for cleanup/reclamation:
Before mining: Use grid paper and pencil to trace the cookie’s outline.
After mining, using only tools, move All crumbs and pieces inside cookie outline.
count: any squares with cookie pieces outside outline cost $1 per square.
$1 per minute mining cost. Max 5 minutes. COST LESS if finish early.
No touching or holding the cookie – only use the tool(s).
Tools: can buy more than one. can be the same or different tools.
MINE: Can buy only one COOKIE. Don’t eat your profits!
Trace Cookie
Return Crumbs Inside
Calculate Cleanup

14. Recap Let’s mine! Wait for the word “go” to mine Partner up
Decide & BUY your cookie type & tool(s)
Trace your cookie
record your cost/purchase information
Wait for the word “go” to mine
5 minutes - No hands - tools only
Success = Profit & Good caretaking
Leave this slide up during the activity as a reference.
Students should return to their seats and partner up.
The helpers should walk around to each table with the cookies and tools.
Let’s mine!

15. Mining discussion points
Did you earn a profit? Were you a good caretaker?
Do you think that mining companies should have to pay reclamation expenses?
Think about your daily life, are there items you could better use to be a good caretaker of our natural resources?
After completing the activity, students can return to the carpet or stay in their seats for the discussion.