Natural Resources

Discover nature's gifts! 3rd graders learn about natural resources like trees, water, and minerals in this fun worksheet.

Read along as you listen to the text. Look around your classroom. What things do you use each day that came from nature? Your books are made of paper. Paper comes from trees. Pencils come from trees, too. Some of the clothes you are wearing started out as plants like cotton. Even the wooden desks and tables came from nature. Nature also gives us the air and water we need to keep us alive. There are many things in nature that are helpful to people.Natural resources are things from nature people need and use. People in all communities depend on natural resources. These resources can give us materials or energy. Plants give us materials that can be used for food, clothing, shelter and medicine. We use wood to build houses, and we grow fruits and vegetables to eat. Nature also gives us many types of energy - sunlight, wind, water and fuels taken from the Earth like oil and natural gas. Minerals are natural resources, too. Minerals come from the Earth, but they are not plants or animals. People use minerals like salt, iron, coal and aluminum every day.Communities need natural resources to survive. Each community has its own natural resources. People in the communities must use their resources wisely. Sometimes people must change the way they live because of the resources they have or need. When they do that, we say they are adapting to their environment. Recycling is an example of how people have changed the way they live. It saves resources like trees and metals, and it keeps some trash out of landfills.Earth's resources help us in many ways. Without them, life would be very difficult or even impossible. This week you will learn about the kinds of resources we find in nature. You will learn how people use and take care of these resources in their communities. And you will find out why it's important for people to use these natural resources wisely - our lives depend on them! Which of the following is an example of something made from a natural resource? A bag made of plastic Clothes made from cotton Where does paper come from? trees oil water What are natural resources? All things you buy in a store. Things you make. Things from nature people need and use. Which is a NOT a natural resource? wood water fruits plastic Which of the following is an example of a mineral? wood salt flowers plastic Why are natural resources important to people? People could not survive without natural resources. Natural resources are fun. Natural resources are not important. According to the article, what is one way to help save natural resources? Using more wood to build houses Throwing away natural resources Recycling Using more water