This document discusses how people can use natural resources responsibly. It defines natural resources as things from nature that living things need. Trees are provided as an example of a renewable natural resource that can be replaced in a fairly short time. Nonrenewable resources cannot be replaced once used up. Conservation involves the wise use of natural resources so that people do not waste them.
2. You are walking through a lush forest. A soft cushion of needles
keeps your foot steps silent.You smell the trees.You hear
chipmunks in the branches. Birds dart back and forth.This is a
beautiful place. But the trees may soon be cut down for lumber and
paper. Can we keep our forests and still have the products we need?
3. Natural resources are living things from the Earth
that living things need.
Trees are an example of natural resources.
Trees are also an example of a renewable
resource.
Renewable resources are resources that can be
replaced in a fairly short time.
4.
5. A nonrenewable resource is a resource that
cannot be replaced.
Many natural resources come from below the
ground.
Miners dig into the ground to get rocks called
ores.
6. Ores
Ores contain metals
and other minerals
that people use.
Copper, iron, and
aluminum are some
useful metals.
Hematite is an ore
that contains the
metal iron.
7. Hematite is an ore
that contains iron.
Coal forms from plants
that live many years ago.
8. Some natural resources are not used up.
Plants need sunlight, air, and water to grow.
We need air to breathe and water to drink.
These resources are not used up.
Sunlight, air, and water are always available.
9. When people walk instead of riding in a car,
they save fuel.
When they choose products that have less
packaging, they save paper and plastic.
There is less garbage. Saving in these ways is
called conservation.
Conservation is
the wise use of
natural resources
so that people do
not waste them or
use them up.
10. Water from homes is
filtered through sand in
ponds like these in
Florida. Farmers use the
recycled water for their
orange trees.