Resources of the Earth

Hello, young scientists! Welcome to an exciting journey to learn all about our amazing planet, Earth. Have you ever wondered where the water we drink comes from, or what the toys we play with are made of? In these notes, we'll explore the incredible treasures our Earth gives us, called resources. It's super important to learn about them so we can take good care of our home!


Section 1: Water, Water Everywhere!

Our planet is covered in water! But did you know there are two main types of water?

Where Does Our Water Come From?

Let's dive in and see the two types of water on Earth:

1. Salt Water:

- This is the super salty water you find in big oceans and seas.
- You can't drink it because it's too salty!
- Example: It's the home for amazing creatures like sharks, whales, and colourful fish.

2. Fresh Water:

- This is the water we can use every day. We find it in rivers, lakes, and rain.
- This is the water we use for drinking, cooking, bathing, and watering plants.
- Example: When you turn on the tap to wash your hands, you are using fresh water!

Did you know?

Our Earth is often called the "Blue Planet" because most of it is covered by salty ocean water. But only a tiny, tiny part of all that water is fresh water that we can use! That's why we must be careful not to waste it.


Is All Fresh Water Safe to Drink?

If you see water in a river, should you drink it? The answer is no! Water from rivers and lakes might look clean, but it can have tiny dirt particles and invisible germs that can make us sick.

To make it safe, our drinking water must be cleaned. This involves two important steps:

- Filtering: Think of this like using a sieve in the kitchen to separate spaghetti from water. Filtering water uses special screens to remove bigger bits of dirt, leaves, and sand.
- Purifying: This step is to get rid of the tiny germs we can't see. Special chemicals are added to the water to kill any harmful germs, making it safe to drink.

Key Takeaway for Water

- Earth has two types of water: salt water (in oceans) and fresh water (in rivers and lakes).
- We use fresh water for our daily needs.
- Drinking water must be cleaned through filtering and purifying to make it safe.


Section 2: Earth's Treasures - Our Resources

Besides water, the Earth gives us many other useful things. These are called resources. Let's learn about two special types. Don't worry if the names seem tricky at first, they are actually quite simple!

Renewable Resources (The 'Never-Ending' Treasures)

A renewable resource is something that nature can make again and again, quite quickly. It's like a magic cookie jar that keeps refilling itself!

Here are some examples from our syllabus:

- Water: Rain falls from the sky, fills up the rivers and lakes, and the cycle continues.
- Wind: The wind is always blowing somewhere on Earth. We can use it to make energy!
- Forests (Trees): We can always plant new trees to replace the ones we use for paper and wood.

Non-Renewable Resources (The 'Use-it-Once' Treasures)

A non-renewable resource is a treasure that takes a very, very long time to form—millions of years! Once we use it all up, it's gone for a long, long time. It's like a birthday cake – once it's all eaten, it's gone!

Here are some examples from our syllabus:

- Petroleum (Oil): This is a black liquid found deep underground. It is used to make petrol for cars and to make plastics.
- Natural Gas: We use this for cooking and heating our homes.
- Minerals: These are things like iron (used to make steel) and copper (used in wires). They are dug out from the ground.


Quick Review: Spot the Difference!

Let's see the main difference again:

Renewable: Can be replaced easily and quickly. (e.g., Wind, Water, Forests)
Non-Renewable: Takes millions of years to form and will run out. (e.g., Oil, Gas, Minerals)


Key Takeaway for Resources

- Resources are useful things we get from Earth.
- Renewable resources can be replaced (like trees).
- Non-renewable resources can run out (like oil).


Section 3: Our Job - Be a Resource Hero!

Now that we know about these amazing resources, we have a very important job. We need to use them responsibly and wisely. This means we should not waste them!

Why Should We Care?

- If we use non-renewable resources too fast, they will run out. Imagine a world with no petrol for cars or plastic for our toys!
- Even though renewable resources can be replaced, we can still harm them. For example, if we pollute our rivers, the water becomes unsafe. If we cut down forests too fast, animals lose their homes.

How Can YOU Be a Resource Hero?

It's easy! You can help protect Earth's resources every day by remembering the Three R's:

1. REDUCE: Use less of things.

- Turn off the water tap when you brush your teeth.
- Turn off lights when you leave a room.

2. REUSE: Use things more than once.

- Use both sides of a piece of paper for drawing.
- Use an old jam jar to store your pencils.

3. RECYCLE: Turn old things into new things.

- Put plastic bottles, paper, and metal cans in the correct recycling bins.
- This way, they can be used to make new products instead of using up more of Earth's resources.

Key Takeaway for Being a Hero

- It is important to use Earth's resources responsibly so they don't run out or get damaged.
- You can be a Resource Hero by remembering to Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle!