Types of Natural Resources
The invisible mixture of gases that we breathe and that supports life on Earth.
Air
BONUS: Which part of nature gives us energy that never runs out, like the wind or sun?
Renewable sources / Natural energy
BONUS: When it rains, what natural “delivery system” moves water from the sky to rivers and lakes?
The water cycle.
BONUS: When people reuse bottles and cans instead of throwing them away, what are they practicing?
Recycling
BONUS: When a bee visits many different flowers, what are they helping to increase without even knowing it?
Pollination /ecosystem health
Water that is clean and drinkable, found in rivers, lakes, and underground.
Freshwater
A basic material that is used to produce goods, like cotton, sand, or crude oil.
Raw Material
Collecting natural resources like trees, crops, or seafood for human use.
Harvesting
Harmful substances introduced into the air, water, or soil.
Pollution
A community of living organisms and their environment working together.
Ecosystem
Wood from trees used for building, paper, and fuel.
Timber
A resource that can be replaced naturally, like sunlight or wind.
Renewable Resource
The process of removing minerals and metals from the Earth.
Mining
The removal of forests for timber, farming, or urban development.
Deforestation
The protection and careful use of natural resources.
Conservation
The upper layer of Earth where plants grow, made of minerals, organic matter, and organisms.
Soil
A resource that takes millions of years to form and cannot be quickly replaced.
Nonrenewable Resource
The method used to extract oil or gas from deep underground.
Drilling
The wearing away of soil or land by wind, water, or human activity.
Erosion
The variety of life in a specific habitat or ecosystem.
Biodiversity
Naturally occurring substances found in rocks, used in tools, electronics, and construction.
Minerals
Elements like iron, copper, and aluminum that are mined and used in manufacturing.
Metals
Nonrenewable energy sources like coal, oil, and natural gas formed over millions of years.
Fossil Fuels
The way humans use land for farming, housing, mining, and other purposes.
Land Use
A system found in nature, like the water cycle, that supports life on Earth.
Natural System