Look around you. The air you breathe, the water you drink, the sunlight that warms you, and the soil in which crops grow -- all of these come from nature. Nature gives us everything we need to live. These gifts of nature are called natural resources.
But what happens if we use them carelessly? Let us learn about natural resources and how to protect them.
Natural resources are things found in nature that are useful to us. They are not made by humans. We use them for food, shelter, clothing, energy, and many other needs.
Examples: water, air, sunlight, soil, forests, coal, petroleum, minerals, natural gas, wind.
Natural resources are of two types: renewable and non-renewable.
| Renewable Resources | Non-Renewable Resources |
|---|---|
| Can be replaced or renewed by nature over time | Cannot be replaced once they are used up |
| Will not run out if used wisely | Took millions of years to form; limited in quantity |
| Examples: water, air, sunlight, wind, forests, soil | Examples: coal, petroleum, natural gas, minerals |
Renewable: Farmers in Punjab use sunlight and water to grow wheat. Fishermen in Kerala depend on the sea. Villagers in Rajasthan use wind energy to pump water.
Non-renewable: Coal from mines in Jharkhand is used in power stations. Petroleum from Assam and Gujarat is turned into petrol and diesel for vehicles. Natural gas is used for cooking (LPG cylinders in our kitchens).
India has a very large population. Millions of people use natural resources every day. If we waste them, they will run out. Non-renewable resources like coal and petroleum cannot be made again. Even renewable resources like water and forests can be harmed if we are careless.
Conservation means using resources carefully so that they last for future generations.
Reduce: Use less. Turn off lights when not needed. Do not waste water. Use less plastic.
Reuse: Use things again instead of throwing them away. Use cloth bags instead of plastic bags. Use old jars to store things.
Recycle: Turn old materials into new products. Old newspapers can be recycled into new paper. Old glass bottles can be melted and made into new ones.
Deforestation means cutting down trees on a large scale. In India, forests are cut for farming, building roads, and making furniture.
Effects of deforestation:
1. Animals lose their homes (habitats). 2. Soil becomes loose and gets washed away (soil erosion). 3. Less rain falls in the area. 4. More carbon dioxide in the air leads to global warming. 5. Floods become more common because trees are not there to hold the soil.
Plant new trees on birthdays and festivals. Use both sides of paper. Say no to unnecessary paper bags. Support Van Mahotsav (tree planting week in India).
Turn off the tap while brushing teeth. Fix leaking taps at home. Use a bucket instead of a hose to wash the car. Collect rainwater (rainwater harvesting).
Switch off fans and lights when leaving a room. Use LED bulbs instead of old bulbs. Dry clothes in sunlight instead of using a dryer. Walk or cycle for short distances.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Natural resource | Something found in nature that is useful to humans |
| Renewable | A resource that can be replaced by nature over time |
| Non-renewable | A resource that cannot be replaced once used up |
| Conservation | Using resources carefully to make them last |
| Deforestation | Cutting down large numbers of trees |
| Recycle | Turning old or waste materials into new products |
My Conservation Pledge: Write three things you will do this week to save natural resources. Share your pledge with your family.
1.
2.
3.
Resource Sorting: Sort these into the correct column: sunlight, coal, wind, natural gas, forests, petroleum, water, minerals.
| Renewable Resources | Non-Renewable Resources |
|---|---|
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Look around you. The air you breathe, the water you drink, the sunlight that warms you, and the soil in which crops grow -- all of these come from nature. Nature gives us everything we need to live. These gifts of nature are called natural resources.
But what happens if we use them carelessly? Let us learn about natural resources and how to protect them.
Natural resources are things found in nature that are useful to us. They are not made by humans. We use them for food, shelter, clothing, energy, and many other needs.
Examples: water, air, sunlight, soil, forests, coal, petroleum, minerals, natural gas, wind.
Think about it: The wooden desk you sit at came from a tree. The petrol in your school bus came from petroleum found deep under the ground. Both are natural resources!
Natural resources are of two types: renewable and non-renewable.
| Renewable Resources | Non-Renewable Resources |
|---|---|
| Can be replaced or renewed by nature over time | Cannot be replaced once they are used up |
| Will not run out if used wisely | Took millions of years to form; limited in quantity |
| Examples: water, air, sunlight, wind, forests, soil | Examples: coal, petroleum, natural gas, minerals |
Renewable: Farmers in Punjab use sunlight and water to grow wheat. Fishermen in Kerala depend on the sea. Villagers in Rajasthan use wind energy to pump water.
Non-renewable: Coal from mines in Jharkhand is used in power stations. Petroleum from Assam and Gujarat is turned into petrol and diesel for vehicles. Natural gas is used for cooking (LPG cylinders in our kitchens).
India has a very large population. Millions of people use natural resources every day. If we waste them, they will run out. Non-renewable resources like coal and petroleum cannot be made again. Even renewable resources like water and forests can be harmed if we are careless.
Conservation means using resources carefully so that they last for future generations.
Reduce: Use less. Turn off lights when not needed. Do not waste water. Use less plastic.
Reuse: Use things again instead of throwing them away. Use cloth bags instead of plastic bags. Use old jars to store things.
Recycle: Turn old materials into new products. Old newspapers can be recycled into new paper. Old glass bottles can be melted and made into new ones.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Natural resource | Something found in nature that is useful to humans |
| Renewable | A resource that can be replaced by nature over time |
| Non-renewable | A resource that cannot be replaced once used up |
| Conservation | Using resources carefully to make them last |
| Deforestation | Cutting down large numbers of trees |
| Recycle | Turning old or waste materials into new products |
Deforestation means cutting down trees on a large scale. In India, forests are cut for farming, building roads, and making furniture.
Effects of deforestation:
1. Animals lose their homes (habitats). 2. Soil becomes loose and gets washed away (soil erosion). 3. Less rain falls in the area. 4. More carbon dioxide in the air leads to global warming. 5. Floods become more common because trees are not there to hold the soil.
India's Project Tiger and Chipko Movement are famous efforts to protect forests and wildlife.
Plant new trees on birthdays and festivals. Use both sides of paper. Say no to unnecessary paper bags. Support Van Mahotsav (tree planting week in India).
Turn off the tap while brushing teeth. Fix leaking taps at home. Use a bucket instead of a hose to wash the car. Collect rainwater (rainwater harvesting).
Switch off fans and lights when leaving a room. Use LED bulbs instead of old bulbs. Dry clothes in sunlight instead of using a dryer. Walk or cycle for short distances.
A. Fill in the Blanks
B. Multiple Choice Questions
C. Short Answer Questions
My Conservation Pledge: Write three things you will do this week to save natural resources. Share your pledge with your family.
1.
2.
3.
Resource Sorting: Sort these into the correct column: sunlight, coal, wind, natural gas, forests, petroleum, water, minerals.
| Renewable Resources | Non-Renewable Resources |
|---|---|