Natural resources are substances that come from Earth.

A renewable resource is not used up, or it can be replaced in our lifetime.

Finite resources exist in limited quantities on Earth. Once they have been used they cannot be regenerated or replaced in our lifetime.

Products that are manufactured from natural resources are known as synthetic products.

Sustainable development is using resources to meet the needs of the current generation without compromising the needs of future generations.

Earth's resources and sustainable development

Combined science

In the Atmosphere and Changing Climate unit, pupils will build on their understanding of Earth's resources to learn about the evidence for the composition and evolution of the Earth's atmosphere and the impact of human activity on climate change.

In the Earth's Resources unit, pupils learned about the composition and structure of the Earth, and the rock cycle.

Using Earth's resources

Which of the following are synthetic products?

Match Earth's resource to where it is used by humans?

What term is used to describe resources that are not used up, or can be replaced in our lifetime?

meeting the needs of humans now, allowing future generations to meet their needs

using products that are manufactured from natural resources

ensuring all finite resources are used up

switching from using renewable resources to using finite resources

increases the need to extract metals from metal ores

Which of the following are benefits of reducing, reusing and recycling products?

purchase a drink bottle that they can reuse each day

buy all the bottles of water they need at the beginning of the week

A student normally buys a bottle of water before school each day and throws the bottle away, in the bin, at the end of the day. How could they be more sustainable? 

Which of these natural resources are fossil fuels?

to make natural resources from synthetic products

What do humans use Earth's resources for?

Which of the following are natural resources?

How can we reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill?

they are not used up or can be replaced in our lifetime

Which of the following statements about finite resources are true?

come from Earth, the oceans and the atmosphere

are not used up, and can be replaced or regenerated in our lifetime

once used cannot be regenerated or replaced in our lifetime

Match the definition with the correct key term.

Starter Quiz