Science Fenns K-5Grades K to 5
A Texas ranch scene with a wooden barn, a cotton field, a pickup truck and a water tank, all made from things the Earth gives.

Science / All lessons / What the Earth Gives Us

Resources We Use

Building, farming, moving and making.

Lesson 31 of 41

Try this first

Before we start

Today’s story

Resources We Use

Look around the kitchen. The table is wood. The window is glass made from sand. The glass of milk came from a cow that ate grass. Everything came from the Earth.

Things that come from nature and people use are called natural resources. Soil, water, air, wood, stone, oil and sunlight are all natural resources.

People use resources in four big ways. We build with them. We grow food with them. We move around with them. And we make products with them. Let's look at each.

See it

Five steps. Every time.

    Hands on

    Resource Scavenger Hunt

    25 minutes · Do this with a grown-up nearby

    You need

    • Paper and pencil
    • A clipboard or book to write on
    • A classroom or house to explore
    • Colored pencils

    Do this

    1. Walk around a room and find ten things.
    2. Write each thing on your list.
    3. Beside each one write the natural resource it came from.
    4. Draw a symbol for building, farming, moving or making.
    5. Mark each item with its use.
    6. Share your best find with a friend.
    Write or draw: A four column table. One column each for building, farming, transportation and making.

    Watch for: Notice that one resource can have many uses. Notice that wood shows up in a lot of places.

    Safety: Do not touch hot stoves or sharp tools while you hunt.

    Same every time

    Three rules

    Rule 1Start with nature.

    Every product began as a natural resource.

    Rule 2Name the use.

    Say if it builds, feeds, moves or makes.

    Rule 3Some resources run out.

    Remember that for the next lesson.

    Grandpa Fenn’s notebook

    Say it like a scientist

    natural resource
    Something from nature that people use.
    farming
    Growing plants and raising animals for food.
    transportation
    Moving people or things from place to place.
    product
    Something people make to use or sell.

    Poppy’s quiz

    Six questions

    Tap an answer. Green means right. You will see why.

    Talk about it

    Say it out loud

    • How do you know a thing came from nature? Trace one from your kitchen.
    • Which natural resources do people near you use most?
    Did you know

    A pair of jeans starts as cotton plants growing in a field.

    Someone who does this

    A rancher uses water, grass and land every day.

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