3.1.1 Materials Humans Use

Materials Humans Use

3.1.1

Be sure to complete your knowledge check before submitting your lesson!

Your knowledge check must be completed.

​

Knowledge Check

Objectives

Learners can:

• recognize the use of natural resources in a variety of industries

• describe the benefits of resources such as coal and freshwater

• compare renewable and nonrenewable resources

• mineral

• natural resource

Prerequisite Vocab

• nonrenewable resource

• renewable resource

New Vocab

Vocabulary

​natural resource that cannot be replaced after it is used

Nonrenewable Resource

natural resource that can be replaced after it is used

Renewable Resource

Open Ended

If you were stranded on a deserted island, what is the very first thing you would do to ensure your survival?

Oxygen, which humans need to survive, comes from plants.

Life Functions

​Agricultural activities need resources such as water and soil to produce crops for food.

Agriculture

Developers also use lumber from trees when building homes.

​​Structures

Resources used to generate electricity include coal, oil, wind, and water.

Electricity

​Natural Resource Uses

Match

Match the resource with the product that it is used to create.

• soil

• lumber

• cotton fibers

growing a garden vegetable

building a deck for a house

fabric for clothing

• growing a garden vegetable

• building a deck for a house

• fabric for clothing

Types of Natural Resources

Minerals are natural, solid substances found in rocks.

Metals, such as copper and aluminum, are minerals commonly used for devices such as phones, computers, and tablets.

Materials such as baby powders and makeup use the mineral talc.

Minerals

Coal is a black rock made from ancient plants' remains. The United States has more coal than any other country in the world. Coal burns because of the organic material from the plants. Coal mining has a long history in many states, including Pennsylvania.

​

Coal

• creating electricity, main use in the United States

• steam for powering trains and factories

Power Source

• used as a direct heat source when it is burned

• charcoal used for cooking food on a grill

Heat Source

• crucial element in creating the tar used for surfacing roads

• toiletry items such as dandruff shampoos and whitening toothpaste

Material Additive

​Uses for Coal

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is the most common use of coal in the United States?

• producing electricity

• powering trains

• creating tar

• heating stoves

One of the most critical resources for all living things is fresh water. Water is unique to planet Earth. Because of the presence of water, life on Earth is possible. Water is not only crucial for living organisms, but it also has other important uses.

​

Fresh Water

• humans require fresh water to drink

• less than 3 percent of it is fresh water available for human consumption

Hydration

• essential for cleaning and sanitation

• needed for cooking, cleaning, bathing, etc.

Cleaning

• all plants need water to grow

• helps grow crops for food

Agriculture

​Uses of Water

Renewable vs. Nonrenewable

A renewable resource is a natural resource that can be replaced after use. An example of a renewable resource is solar energy.

Renewable Resources

A nonrenewable resource is a natural resource that cannot be replaced after it is used. Coal is an example of a nonrenewable resource. It takes millions of years for coal to form.

Nonrenewable Resources

Multiple Choice

Which term best describes a nonrenewable resource?

• unlimited

• limited

• clean

• free