pages 98 and 99
8.1 Renewable and non-renewable resources
Anything that people find useful is a resource. Human resources include labour, machinery
and money. Stone, water, soil and timber are natural resources, because nature provides
them. Some natural resources will never run out, and we call these renewable. Other
natural resources will run out some day, and these are non-renewable.
1
Q
On the diagram, colour the non-renewable resources in red and the renewable in green.
NATURAL RESOURCES
Non-renewable
Resources that can only
be used once
Renewable
Resources that can be
used over and over again
•
that
• Resources
are consumed
when used,
e.g. coal
•
• Resources
that can be
exhausted by
over-use,
e.g. trees, fish
that
• Resources
can be reused
or recycled,
e.g. metals
that are
• Resources
always available,
e.g. wind and
water power
To sustain the supply of natural resources, so they do not run out, we need to manage
these resources in a sustainable way.
2
Q
Choose words from the Wordbox to label the diagram.
Wordbox
Recycling
• Conservation
•
Controlling pollution
• Using
• Increased efficiency
renewable
resources
•
____________________
Protecting and preserving wildlife
and scenery
____________________
Reprocessing materials so they
can be used again
Sustainable Resource
Management
____________________
____________________
Reducing emissions from vehicles
and power stations
____________________
____________________
Using wind and wave power
which will not run out
____________________
____________________
Using resources in a less wasteful
way, e.g. improving home
insulation
The New Wider World Foundation Edition (Second Edition) Teacher’s Resource CD-ROM, © Grant Westoby, Nelson Thornes 2005
pages 98 and 99
8.2 Daily resources
1
Q
Think about one normal day in your life. During that day you probably used up
several resources, caused quite a lot of pollution and may have tried to conserve the
environment. In the table, show ‘One day in my life’. Some ideas have been added to
the table to help you.
Resources which I used up
Clean water
Pollution which I caused
Soapy water from my shower
Fish and chips
2
Q
How I tried to conserve
the environment
Cycled to school
Put empty drink can in
aluminium recycling bin
Look at the drawing which shows what is in
household waste.
List as many ways as you can of
reducing each type of waste.
____________________
____________________
____________________
____________________
____________________
Organic waste 30%
Paper and card 17%
New
spaper and magazines 16%
Glass
(bottles and jars) 9%
Combustibles 7%
Metal cans 6%
Plastic film 4%
Textiles 3%
Plastic bottles 2%
Plastic packaging 2%
Other metal, glass,
etc 4%
3
Q
‘We’re not running out of resources – we’re just turning them into rubbish we can’t use again!’
What do you understand by this statement?
The New Wider World Foundation Edition (Second Edition) Teacher’s Resource CD-ROM, © Grant Westoby, Nelson Thornes 2005
pages 100 and 101
8.3 Non-renewable energy
Energy provides lighting and heating in our homes and offices. It powers computers,
televisions and factory machinery. It fuels transport and has helped us develop and improve
our quality of life.
So far, non-renewable resources like coal, gas and oil have been easy to find, and seemed
quite cheap. The real cost is in the pollution they cause and the changes to the world’s climate.
1
Q
The drawing shows five main types of non-renewable energy resources. Complete the
labels with words from the Wordbox.
Natural _ _ _ is used
for heating and to
produce electricity.
_ _ _ is used for heating,
lighting, transport and
to produce electricity.
_______
energy uses a
mineral called
uranium to
produce
electricity.
_ _ _ _ is often
the only source
of energy in
some countries.
_ _ _ _ is used for
heating and to
produce electricity.
Wordbox
• Gas • Oil • Wood • Coal • Nuclear
2
Q
Use these titles to label each drawing.
Oil drilling rig at sea
Gas-fired power station
Nuclear power station
Coal mining
Woman carrying firewood
3
Q
Now draw a spider diagram to show how
you use fossil fuels or electricity every day.
Here are some ideas to help you.
Training shoes
Shower gel
… in the things I use
… in the things I own
I use fossil fuels every day …
… for these activities …
Listening to CDs
The New Wider World Foundation Edition (Second Edition) Teacher’s Resource CD-ROM, © Grant Westoby, Nelson Thornes 2005
pages 100 and 101
8.4 Fuels as natural resources
1
Q
2
Q
Draw lines to match the heads and tails.
Resources
turns waste into something which is usable again.
Non-renewable
are the ancient remains of plants or animals.
Renewable
resources can only be used once.
Recycling
resources will never run out.
Fossil fuels
are things which can be useful to people.
Use the clues to fill the grid.
E
N
E
R
G
Y
Movements of the sea
Movements of the air
A fossil fuel
The earth’s heat
Energy from the sun
A black liquid
Uses uranium
A rock that burns
Produces hydro-electricity
3
Q
R
E
S
O
U
R
C
E
S
Complete the table by writing each energy source from the Wordbox in the correct column.
Some may go in more than one column.
Non-renewable
Fossil fuels
Renewable
Wordbox
nuclear power • fuelwood • tidal • hydro-electric power
• coal
•
• oil • natural gas • geothermal • wind • solar • waves
The New Wider World Foundation Edition (Second Edition) Teacher’s Resource CD-ROM, © Grant Westoby, Nelson Thornes 2005
pages 100 and 101
8.5 Nuclear energy
People have strong views about nuclear energy. Some think it dangerous and want it
banned. Others see it as a clean and modern source of power which can meet our needs for
many years to come.
1
Q
Read what people have to say in the nuclear debate.
Nuclear power is very cost
effective. 1 tonne of
uranium ore can produce
as much electricity as
25,000 tonnes of coal.
There is always the
risk of a nuclear leak
or accident.
Safety is very important in
nuclear power stations.
Accidents are very unlikely.
Getting rid of
radioactive nuclear
waste is very difficult.
We should have nuclear
power. The world’s fossil
fuels, especially coal and
oil, will eventually run out.
Nuclear waste remains
radioactive for thousands of
years and must be buried
deep under ground.
We don’t need nuclear
power. More efficient
industry and energy-saving
homes will reduce the need
for electricity in the future.
2
Q
3
Q
Nuclear waste is minimal
and can be stored safely
under ground.
Nuclear power stations
cost a lot to build and
are expensive to run.
Nuclear power is ‘clean’. It
emits no waste gases which
pollute the atmosphere,
worsen the greenhouse effect
or produce acid rain.
Shade opposing views on the same issue, e.g. safety, in the same colour.
Why might nuclear power be a valuable energy resource in the future?
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
Extra
What is your opinion? Are you for or against nuclear power? Explain your answer.
The New Wider World Foundation Edition (Second Edition) Teacher’s Resource CD-ROM, © Grant Westoby, Nelson Thornes 2005
pages 102 and 103
8.6 Renewable energy resources
Resources such as water, wind and the sun can be harnessed to supply us with renewable
energy. They tend to be difficult and expensive to use but cause little pollution and will
never run out.
As coal, gas and oil run out, renewable energy resources will become more important.
1
Q
The drawing shows six main types of renewable energy resources. Complete the labels with
words from the Wordbox.
T _ _ _ _ energy is trapped
where tides enter river
estuaries (mouths).
W _ _ _ turbines
produce electricity.
S _ _ _ _ energy
comes from the sun.
W _ _ _ energy is
produced by wind
blowing over the sea.
W _ _ _ _, if it is fast
,
produces hydro-electricity.
G_________
energy uses heat
from inside the earth.
Wordbox
• Wave • Water • Geothermal • Tidal • Wind • Solar
2
Q
3
Q
Which ‘point of view’ in the
cartoon below do you agree
with? Explain your answer.
Use these titles to label each drawing.
Wind turbines
Estuary barrier
Solar panels
Hydro-electricity dam
Harnessing wave power
Geothermal pipelines
It is better to have
cheap electricity than
to worry about the
environment.
The protection of our
environment is much
more important than
cheap electricity.
The New Wider World Foundation Edition (Second Edition) Teacher’s Resource CD-ROM, © Grant Westoby, Nelson Thornes 2005
pages 104 and 105
8.7 Wind power
The wind has been used for thousands of years as a power source for sailing ships and
windmills. Nowadays, huge wind turbines can generate electricity from the power of
the wind.
1
Q
Read about the advantages and disadvantages of wind power.
UK is one of the windiest
generated during storms cannot be
• The
• Electricity
countries in the world.
stored for use during calm weather.
underneath wind turbines can still be
• Wind turbines do not cause air pollution. • Land
farmed.
• Wind could generate 10% of the UK’s electricity.
UK has many suitable sites for wind
• The
farms, both on land and offshore.
• There is no fuel to transport or to store.
is unreliable and so turbines cannot be
• Wind
turned on when demand for power is highest.
• A large wind farm is expensive to build. • Coldest weather is often during calm weather.
• No carbon dioxide or greenhouse gases are given off.
• Wind does not blow all the time.
• Wind farms spoil the look of the countryside. • Wind farms can produce income for farmers.
• Wind power is getting cheaper to develop. • Running costs are very low. • Wind is free.
are strongest in winter when
• Winds
demand for electricity is highest.
turbines are needed to produce the same
• 7000
amount of electricity as one nuclear power station.
turbines are noisy and • Wind power is ideal for
• Wind
can interrupt TV and radio.
small, remote communities.
2
Q
3
Q
Shade boxes about advantages in green and disadvantages in red.
The Department of Energy believes wind power to be the most
promising source of renewable energy. Design a poster to promote
the use of wind power.
Your poster should tell of the advantages of wind power.
• You
try to use some of the things you have learnt about
• windshould
farms.
The New Wider World Foundation Edition (Second Edition) Teacher’s Resource CD-ROM, © Grant Westoby, Nelson Thornes 2005
pages 104 and 105
8.8 Wind farms
1
Q
Read this newspaper article.
Wind
Mid-Wales Farmer Faces Blight from
farmer told our
reporter today
to build a huge
s
plan
that
wind farm on Mynydd Carn
should be scrapped. Mr
Hywel Davies and his wife
Mair, of Ty Coch farm, say
they would be able to see
the 60 metre tall turbines
from every window of their
house. ‘They ruin the
landscape,’ said Mrs
2
Q
3
Q
Farm!
Davies. ‘We don’t want
them here in mid-Wales,
and lots of other people
agree with us.’ An
Electricity Board official
defended the proposals for
the wind farm. ‘We cannot
keep using fossil fuels
forever – the local farmer
might not see the sense of
a wind farm, but plenty of
others do!’
What is Mr Davies’ main objection to the wind farm proposal?
Write a letter to the newspaper saying why a wind farm should be built. Try to use some of the
things you have learned about wind farms.
The New Wider World Foundation Edition (Second Edition) Teacher’s Resource CD-ROM, © Grant Westoby, Nelson Thornes 2005
pages 106 and 107
8.9 Energy and the environment – oil in Alaska
The exploitation of any type of energy can damage the environment. Most damage is
done by fossil fuels such as oil.
1
Q
Read the following statements about the oil industry.
Large areas of land have to be cleared when drilling for oil for laying pipelines
and building refineries and terminals.
Drilling rigs in the sea are ugly and can be a hazard to shipping.
Natural vegetation, wildlife habitats and sensitive marine reserves are destroyed.
Oil refineries are eyesores, especially if in an area with attractive scenery.
If underwater pipelines fracture, oil can be spilled.
Drilling for oil is very noisy.
Any oil spillage and discharges can kill wildlife and pollute beaches.
An explosion on a drilling rig or oil tanker could endanger life.
Smoke from serious fires causes air pollution.
Oil refineries and terminals release fumes into the air when oil is being refined.
If an oil tanker runs aground, oil escapes into the sea and is washed up onto the coast.
Oil is washed onshore, killing sea birds and affecting seal colonies.
Illegal, deliberate discharges of oil at sea cause serious pollution.
2
Q
3
Q
Colour the centre of each statement in the following way:
●
Do not colour the borders.
●
How the land is affected by the exploitation of oil in green.
●
How the sea is affected by the exploitation of oil in blue.
Categorise the statements further by colouring the borders as follows:
●
Short-term harm to the environment in yellow.
●
Long-term harm to the environment in red.
The New Wider World Foundation Edition (Second Edition) Teacher’s Resource CD-ROM, © Grant Westoby, Nelson Thornes 2005