New
New
Year 8

The impacts of using geological resources

I can evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of using geological resources and explain how they affect people and the environment.

New
New
Year 8

The impacts of using geological resources

I can evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of using geological resources and explain how they affect people and the environment.

These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

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These resources were created for remote use during the pandemic and are not designed for classroom teaching.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Geological resources bring money, jobs, and materials we rely on daily.
  2. Extraction harms landscapes, wildlife, and sometimes local communities.
  3. Mining and fossil fuels create jobs and support national economies.
  4. Fossil fuels pollute and add to global warming despite economic value.
  5. Sustainable alternatives are growing but aren't yet fully replacing fossil fuels.

Keywords

  • Extraction - the process of removing natural resources from the ground

  • Fossil fuels - natural substances that were formed over millions of years from the buried remains of ancient organisms; they include coal, oil and gas

  • Pollution - harmful substances released into the environment

  • Sustainability - when something is able to continue over a long time

Common misconception

Geological resources are all bad because they damage the environment.

While they can cause environmental harm, they also provide essential materials and economic benefits. The key is understanding both advantages and disadvantages—which is what geographers evaluate.


To help you plan your year 8 geography lesson on: The impacts of using geological resources, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Encourage students to think critically by weighing up the pros and cons, rather than assuming that resources are purely good or bad.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which type of rock is formed from cooled magma or lava?
Sedimentary
Correct answer: Igneous
Metamorphic
Fossil fuel
Q2.
What do we call the process of removing rock or soil from Earth’s surface for resources?
Farming
Correct answer: Quarrying
Deforestation
Erosion
Q3.
Rocks that have changed due to and pressure are called metamorphic.
Correct Answer: heat
Q4.
Which of these is not a sedimentary rock?
Limestone
Chalk
Correct answer: Basalt
Sandstone
Q5.
Which word describes a chemical substance found naturally in the ground?
Quarry
Correct answer: Mineral
Resource
Fossil
Q6.
Why can’t we just “make more” oil when we run out?
It’s cheap to produce
It’s made in factories
Correct answer: It takes millions of years to form
We can use soil instead

4 Questions

Q1.
What is the process of removing natural resources from the ground called?
Digging
Correct answer: Extraction
Quarrying
Farming
Q2.
Which of the following is an example of a fossil fuel?
Iron
Sandstone
Correct answer: Coal
Slate
Q3.
What is one reason fossil fuels are still widely used, despite their impacts?
They don’t release any pollution
They are completely renewable
Correct answer: They provide a lot of energy reliably
They form quickly
Q4.
Which of the following statements is most accurate?
All geological resources are dangerous and should never be used
Correct answer: Geological resources can have both benefits and environmental costs
Geological resources don’t impact the environment
Only renewable resources are useful