Investigating Earth's Natural Resources: Natural Resource Sustainability

Upon viewing the Investigating Earth's Natural Resources video series, students will be able to do the following: Define a natural resource as anything we take from the environment and use. List natural resources commonly used . Understand that nonrenewable natural resources exist in a fixed amount and cannot be readily replaced by nature. Cite some examples of nonrenewable resources. Examples might include coal, oil, natural gas, and minerals. Describe renewable natural resources as resources that can be replenished by nature in a relatively short amount of time. List some examples of renewable natural resources. Examples might include: wind, moving water, energy from the sun, as well as living things such as trees, vegetables, grass, and animals. Differentiate between nonrenewable and renewable resources. Understand that natural resources can also be categorized into other groups. Some of these groups include the following: air resources, water resources, land resources, and living natural resources. List some examples of energy natural resources. Differentiate and compare nonrenewable energy resources and renewable energy resources. Discuss the pros and cons of various energy resources. Define pollution as the contamination of natural resources. Describe some of the consequences of natural resource pollution. Explain the process of resource overconsumption. Describe how overconsumption can lead to natural resources becoming scarce. Understand that sustainability involves not overusing or damaging natural resources so they can continue to be available long into the future.