Natural Resources

Anything from nature that living things can use.

They provide us with things we need in order to live like water, air and shelter.

Every living thing on earth needs water to survive. There is very little freshwater on Earth because most water is found in the ocean and it is salty.

Homes can be built from wood. We use paper and pencils at school, which are made from wood. Even a desk or milk carton can be made from wood.

We can recycle the old paper so that it is used to make new paper.

All natural resources are important, but people cannot live without air, water, food and shelter.

People use natural resources to make things, produce energy and provide water, food and shelter needed to live. Natural resources are even used to make cars and computers.

Yes, if we use a lot of them very quickly, there may not be enough for everyone or they could run out. For example, if people eat too many fish from the ocean, that kind of fish may no longer exist.

Fossil fuels, such as coal, oil and natural gas, formed in the Earth over millions of years. Humans are using up these resources much faster than they are being formed. The process to make fossil fuels happens naturally, but it is very slow.

You could walk or ride a bike instead of driving, which uses gas made from fossil fuels. If you are going somewhere with other people, you can carpool.

We can find wood used to make desks, pencils, paper and books. Water can be found in the bathroom and the drinking fountain. Things that are plastic are made from fossil fuels, which is also a natural resource.

People could not survive without natural resources. We need natural resources for food, housing, clothing, transportation, communication and more. We must conserve natural resources so they will continue to be available for everyone.