Natural Resources and Conservation Flashcards

Grade 4 · Science · Flashcards

Key terms for understanding Earth's resources and how to protect them.

Flashcards

Natural resource: Any material found in nature that living things use, including water, air, soil, plants, animals, minerals, and energy sources
Renewable resource: A resource that nature can replace in a reasonable amount of time (e.g., sunlight, wind, water, timber)
Nonrenewable resource: A resource that cannot be replaced within a human lifetime once it is used up (e.g., coal, oil, minerals)
Fossil fuel: A fuel formed from the remains of ancient organisms over millions of years; includes coal, oil, and natural gas
Conservation: The protection and wise use of natural resources to prevent waste and preserve them for the future
Reduce: Using less of a resource to decrease waste (e.g., turning off lights when leaving a room)
Reuse: Using an item again instead of throwing it away (e.g., refilling a water bottle)
Recycle: Processing used materials to make new products, reducing the need for new raw materials
Pollution: Harmful substances added to the environment (air, water, land) by human activities
Deforestation: The large-scale removal of forests, which destroys habitats and reduces air quality
Solar energy: Energy from the sun; a clean, renewable energy source that can be converted to electricity
Wind energy: Energy captured from wind using turbines; a clean, renewable energy source
Habitat: The natural environment where a plant or animal lives; protecting habitats conserves biodiversity