Natural resources: The things we use
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain what natural resources are and describe where they are found.
Key learning points
- Natural resources are materials or substances that occur naturally in the environment and can be used by humans.
- We rely on natural resources for food, building and income.
- Natural resources are distributed unevenly around the world.
- Many countries lack certain natural resources and have to import them.
- The natural resource trap can mean a wealth of resources negatively affects a country's development.
Keywords
Natural resources - materials or substances that occur naturally in the environment and can be used by humans to meet their needs
Renewable - can replenish naturally over short periods of time
Non-renewable - take millions of years to form and cannot be quickly replaced
Common misconception
All natural resources are natural and untouched by humans.
Many natural resources have been heavily managed, modified, or even created by humans, such as: managed forests, fish farms, or reservoirs.
Teacher tip
Ask the students to make a list of all of the natural resources they use in one day, as a homework task. Bonus points if they can tell you where each of the resources are from.
Licence
Lesson video
Loading...
Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which of these is a natural resource?
Q2.Which of these is not a natural resource?
Q3.Which of these is a natural resource?
Q4.What do we call resources that we can use again and again?
Q5.Sunlight is a resource.
Q6.Which of these is found in the ground?
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.Match the keywords to their definitions:
Materials or substances from nature used to meet human needs
Can replenish naturally over short periods of time
Take millions of years to form and cannot be quickly replaced
Q2.Which of these is an example of a managed natural resource?
Q3.Coal is a resource.
Q4.Why is it incorrect to say all natural resources are untouched by people?
To help you plan your 9 geography lesson on: Natural resources: The things we use, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 9 geography lesson on: Natural resources: The things we use, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 geography lessons from the Natural resources: Can Earth meet our needs? unit, dive into the full secondary geography curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.