Natural Resources
Grade 2 · Social Studies · Study Guide
Discover the gifts from nature that people use every day — and why we must protect them.
Natural resources are materials that come from nature and that people use to live and make things. The air we breathe, the water we drink, the wood from trees, coal from the ground, and sunlight from the sky are all natural resources. Without natural resources, life on Earth would not be possible.
There are two types of natural resources: renewable and nonrenewable. Renewable resources can be replaced or regrown relatively quickly. Trees can be replanted. Sunlight, wind, and water will always be available. Solar panels and wind turbines capture these renewable energy sources.
Nonrenewable resources take millions of years to form and cannot be easily replaced. Oil, coal, and natural gas are nonrenewable. Once we use them up, they are gone. These fossil fuels were formed from ancient plants and animals buried underground over millions of years. We use them to power cars, heat homes, and generate electricity.
Because some resources are limited, it is very important that we use them carefully. The three R's — Reduce, Reuse, Recycle — help us conserve natural resources. Reducing means using less. Reusing means using things again instead of throwing them away. Recycling means turning old materials into new products so we do not need as many raw resources from nature.
| Renewable | Nonrenewable |
|---|---|
| Sunlight | Oil |
| Wind | Coal |
| Water | Natural gas |
| Trees (forests) | Minerals like gold |
| Soil (with care) | Diamonds |
Key terms
- natural resource
- A material from nature that people use, like water, wood, or oil
- renewable resource
- A natural resource that can be replaced or regenerated relatively quickly
- nonrenewable resource
- A resource that takes millions of years to form and cannot be replaced quickly
- conservation
- The careful use and protection of natural resources
- fossil fuel
- A nonrenewable energy source formed from ancient living things — oil, coal, natural gas
Flashcards
- Natural resource
- A material from nature people use to live and make things
- Renewable resource
- Can be replaced or regrown — sunlight, wind, water, trees
- Nonrenewable resource
- Takes millions of years to form and cannot be replaced quickly — oil, coal
- Conservation
- Careful use and protection of natural resources
- Fossil fuel
- Nonrenewable energy from ancient organisms — oil, coal, natural gas
- Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
- The three R's — ways to conserve natural resources and reduce waste
Practice questions
What is a natural resource?
- Something made in a factory
- A material from nature that people use
- A type of map
- A kind of government
Show answer
Answer: A material from nature that people use
Natural resources come from nature — they are not manufactured or made by people. Examples include trees, water, minerals, and sunlight.
Oil is a renewable resource because we can make more of it.
Show answer
Answer: False
Oil is a nonrenewable resource because it takes millions of years to form from ancient organisms. Once it is used up, it is gone.
The careful use and protection of natural resources is called ___.
Show answer
Answer: conservation
Conservation means using resources thoughtfully and protecting them so that future generations will also have access to them.
Which of these is a RENEWABLE resource?
- Coal
- Oil
- Sunlight
- Natural gas
Show answer
Answer: Sunlight
Sunlight is renewable — it will always be available as long as the sun exists. Coal, oil, and natural gas are nonrenewable fossil fuels.
The three R's — Reduce, Reuse, Recycle — help protect natural resources.
Show answer
Answer: True
The three R's are key habits for conservation: use less (reduce), use items again (reuse), and turn old materials into new ones (recycle).
Fun facts
- The sun produces more energy in one second than humans have used in all of recorded history!
- Recycling one aluminum can saves enough energy to run a television for three hours.
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