14
Our Pennsylvania Story
L E S S ON 5
Our Natural Resources
What is a
natural resource
? A natural resource is a useful material found in or on
the earth. Air andwater are natural resources. Humans, plants, and animals need them
to live.
Other natural resources are soil, forests, animals, andminerals. People are a natural
resource, too.
These resources can be
renewable
or
non-renewable
. A renewable resource is one
that can be replaced. Forests, plants, and animals can be replaced. Air, water, and soil
are renewable. They can be cleaned and reused.
A non-renewable resource cannot be replaced. Once it is used up, it is gone forever.
We cannot make new coal or oil once it is used up.
Why are natural resources so important? They are important becausewe get somany
goods
, or products, from them. Protecting and using our natural resources wisely is
called
conservation
. Our state hasmany natural resources.
Get toKnowMe
1. natural resource
2. renewable
3. non-renewable
4. goods
5. conservation
6. pollution
What Is
Pollution?
Pollution
iswhenwe put
unsafematerial into the air,
water, or land. Factories are
amajor source of pollution.
Smoke from factories can be
harmful. It can pollute our
rivers, soil, and air.
