Hi there! Today we are going to explore the natural resources on our beautiful planet and see how they power our lives.
Natural resources are things from nature that we use every day. Some of these resources can be replaced quickly, while others take millions of years to form.
Renewable resources are clean energy sources that never run out. Sunlight, wind, and water are great examples because nature constantly remakes them.
Nonrenewable resources exist in limited amounts on Earth. Fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas disappear forever once we burn them up.
✏️ Worked example
Classify a forest of trees. Is wood a renewable or nonrenewable resource? Explain your thinking step by step.
Identify how we use the resource. We cut down trees to get wood for building houses and making paper.
Look at how fast the resource is replaced in nature. Trees can grow back from seeds in a few decades.
Compare the replacement time to a human lifetime. Since trees can grow back within 20 to 50 years, they are replaced relatively quickly.
Conclude your classification. Because trees can be replanted and grown again in a short time, wood is a renewable resource.
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