Clarendon Learning explores Our Natural Resources
Can I ask you for a moment to consider this fantastic planet we live on?
It IS remarkable. There is no other planet like ours; the planet we call Earth.
Nothing like it in our solar system and there is no other planet like this one
as far as we know
in the whole Milky Way Galaxy!

Yes
earth is unique and diverse
and everything we need to live and enjoy our lives is right here on planet earth.
When we talk about the things that are available in nature; things that are found in
and on and around the earth; things that are used to sustain our lives,
or things that are used to make other things that we may enjoy our lives
all these things that the earth provides are called natural resources.
Think for a moment and answer this question what is the one thing you could not do without?
Did you say smartphone! DUDE really?!
Let me rephrase the question.
What is the one thing you can not LIVE without?...and please don’t say your smartphone.

Who said cheeseburgers?
Now you're getting closer! The food you eat comes from Natural Resources!

Maybe you said you can’t live without Water or Air...
BINGO!
People need clean water and clean air to live, and these are Natural Resources.
Here is a short list of Natural Resources and you may think of many more!
Water
Air
Coal
Oil
Natural Gas
Minerals
Soil
Timber
and forests and plants.
I think we could also include things that provide other forms of energy like wind
and the sun as a Natural resource.
And while we're at it let’s also include animals that are used for food and clothing as a
natural resource.
Of course, I’m referring to cattle and poultry and pigs and fish and other game animals.
Natural Resources are categorized in two basic groups. Renewable and Non-Renewable.
Oxygen
Fresh Water
trees and plants are examples of renewable resources
these are things that the earth continues to provide,
as well as solar energy from the sun and power from the wind.
And if animals continue to have babies they can be lumped in with the renewables.
Non-renewable resources however are like things that once you use it,
it's gone forever.
Resources used to provide energy like oil and natural gas and coal are non-renewable
these resources were in the earth for millions of years and as we use them and burn them
up in our cars and machines and homes...they are gone forever.
Also, in this group would be resources that are mined; like gold, silver and other ores like
iron and metals that cannot be replaced.
People began making use of these natural resources when they began making

bricks of earth and clay and began diverting rivers and streams to build reservoirs
and irrigate crops.
They planted seeds to grow food and raised and controlled herds of cattle;
and mined gold and gemstones to adorn themselves with jewelry.
They cut down trees and made log homes.
Early people used different resources to trade for what they needed.
Natural Resources were and are like money.
As you probably have figured out, it is by using these resources
that the economies of the countries of the world grow and develop.
Jobs are created as Natural Resources are used.
For example,
ores are mined to make steel to make cars
timber is harvested to make lumber to build homes.
Plastics and glass get their start from the resources the earth provides.
Clothing and textiles; Medicines and machines
everything gets a start from basic materials provided from what?
You guessed it! Natural Resources!
Where does milk come from? Did you say... “the Store”?
Where does it really come from?
Food...comes from something that begins in the earth, our Natural Resource.
Right now, the people of earth rely heavily on a major Natural Resource.
OIL!
Oil has been in the earth for hundreds of millions of years
and people discovered that it was a fuel for energy; it was great
to burn it to make us warm in the winter
and use it to power machines
including automobiles and airplanes and ships.
We have been pumping it 24 hours a day 7 days a week all over the world.
But we can't do that forever, can we?
Remember that oil is a non-renewable resource and when it’s gone it is gone for all time.
Don’t you think we should find another source of RENEWABLE energy?
Energy that also is cleaner when used?
YOU just may be the one to figure out a better way to use our Natural Resources.
Maybe a better way to use our renewable resources like water, or the wind, or the sun.
Natural resources are valuable if you consider the value of timber, oil, natural gas
and minerals,
here is a list of the countries with the greatest total value in natural resources.
In the top spot...Russia.
Number 2 the USA!
Followed by Saudi Arabia
Cananda
Iran
China
Brazil
Australia
Iraq
and Venezuela to round out the top ten.
You may consider watching the Clarendon Learning video titled
"The Industrial Revolution"
to see how people have used the resources of the earth to improve our lives.
In the future, managing and protecting our Natural Resources will take skill.
It will take ingenuity, technology and knowledge and awareness and careful conservation.
Remember that much of our resources are non-renewable once they’re gone they are gone for good.
We will always need clean water; can you imagine a world without clean water?
Try drinking a glass of dirty water,
NO THANK YOU!
As our need for energy increases...we will need people to develop
improved and efficient sources of renewable power like power from the sun
and wind and water.
The use of non-renewables is still important, but it won't last forever.
Conservation of our resources is like money in a savings account
you don't want to spend all your money, so you have nothing right?
Much of our natural resources have many uses;
for example, we build dams to hold back rivers and create reservoirs
reservoirs then provide water for large populations to drink,
to irrigate crops,
and to provide hydroelectricity and...provide areas for recreation!
This is a wise use of a natural resource!
The oceans are huge!
But they are not fresh water and not for drinking.

We use trees to provide timber to build homes and make toothpicks
but we must continue to plant new seedlings to have trees in the future.
We've got to be smart and learn to use things over and over
and reduce using things where we can.
Can you help?
What can you do to help preserve our Natural Resources?
And let me ask you again what on this earth can you NOT do without?
Can you help to keep it around a little longer?
Can you help protect and conserve our valued Natural Resources?
I THINK YOU CAN!
Now you may want to check out the Clarendon Learning Lesson Plan activity page
and see if you can better identify and classify our Natural Resources!
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