KO: Natural Resources
Subject: Geography | Year: 6
Name: _________________________ Class/Set: ____________ Date: ____________
1. Key Knowledge / Core Facts
- Natural Resource: Any material or energy source found in nature that humans use to survive or create products.
- Abiotic Resources: Derived from non-living things, such as sunlight, fresh water, air, and minerals.
- Biotic Resources: Derived from living or once-living things, including forests, animals, and fossil fuels (decayed organic matter).
- Finite Resources: Also known as non-renewable; these take millions of years to form and will eventually run out.
- Infinite Resources: Also known as renewable; these can be used repeatedly as they are naturally replenished (e.g., wind).
- Resource Distribution: The way resources are spread across the planet; this is uneven due to geology and climate.
2. Key Vocabulary
- Sustainability: Meeting the needs of people today without preventing future generations from meeting their own needs.
- Extraction: The physical process of removing resources from the Earth, such as mining, drilling, or quarrying.
- Consumption: The amount of a resource that is used by a person, a household, or a country.
- Commodity: A raw material or primary agricultural product that can be bought and sold on global markets.
- Reforestation: The act of planting new trees in an area where a forest has been cut down or destroyed.
- Scarcity: A situation where the demand for a resource is higher than the available supply.
3. Non-Renewable Resources
- Coal: A solid fossil fuel mined from the ground; primarily used for electricity but produces high CO₂ emissions.
- Crude Oil: A liquid fossil fuel drilled from underground or under the sea; used for petrol, heating, and making plastics.
- Natural Gas: Often found near oil deposits; transported via pipelines for heating and cooking in UK homes.
- Nuclear Energy: Uses uranium to create heat through fission; it is 'low carbon' but produces radioactive waste.
- Metallic Minerals: Resources like iron, copper, and gold found within rocks called ores; used in construction and electronics.
4. Renewable Energy Sources
- Solar Power: Capturing energy from sunlight using photovoltaic panels to create electricity.
- Wind Power: Using large turbines to turn wind energy into electricity; the UK is a global leader in offshore wind.
- Hydroelectric Power (HEP): Generating electricity by using the force of flowing water in rivers or through large dams.
- Geothermal Energy: Tapping into heat generated from inside the Earth to provide heating or electricity.
- Biomass: Burning organic materials, such as wood pellets or plant waste, to produce heat or power.
5. Human Impacts and Sustainability
- Global Warming: The burning of fossil fuels releases greenhouse gases, causing the Earth’s temperature to rise.
- Habitat Loss: Extraction processes like open-cast mining or logging destroy the natural homes of plants and animals.
- Pollution: Accidental oil spills or chemical leaks from mines can poison water supplies and kill aquatic life.
- Conservation: Efforts to protect resources through the '3 Rs': Reduce (use less), Reuse (use again), and Recycle (reprocess).
- Green Technology: The development of new inventions, like electric cars, to reduce our reliance on finite resources.
6. Distribution and Global Use
- Uneven Wealth: Countries with high levels of valuable resources (like oil in the Middle East) often have stronger economies.
- UK Energy Mix: The UK closed its last coal-fired power station in 2024 and is now focused on replacing gas with renewable sources like wind and solar.
- Water Stress: Many parts of the world lack access to clean water due to climate or lack of infrastructure.
- Resource Conflict: Competition over scarce resources, such as water or oil, can sometimes lead to tension between countries.
- Import/Export: The UK imports resources it lacks (like tropical fruit or certain metals) and exports others (like machinery and manufactured goods).
Quick Check Task
- Task A: Identify whether Wind is Renewable or Non-Renewable.
- Task B: Name one negative impact of Extraction.
- Task C: Define the term Sustainability in your own words.
- Task D: Which fossil fuel is commonly used in UK homes for cooking?
⚠ TEACHER’S GUIDANCE
💡 Pedagogical Opportunities
- Dual Coding: Encourage students to draw a simple icon next to each 'Key Vocabulary' term to aid memory retention.
- Misconception Alert: Ensure students understand that Nuclear Energy is non-renewable (because uranium is finite) even though it does not produce CO₂ like fossil fuels.
- Active Learning: Use Category 4 as a prompt for a 'Think-Pair-Share' activity: "Which renewable energy source is most suitable for our local area and why?"
🔑 Answer Key (Mirror-Labeling)
- Task A Answer: Renewable.
- Task B Answer: Habitat loss, pollution, or global warming (accept any).
- Task C Answer: Meeting our needs now without damaging the ability of people in the future to meet theirs.
- Task D Answer: Natural Gas.
