1. Unit 2: Natural Resources Around the World: Use and Sustainability
Introduction
Unit 2: Natural Resources Around the World: Use and Sustainability

2. Guiding questions for Unit
Why might some countries be better able than others to extract and use natural resources in a sustainable way?
How do we determine whether the extraction and/or use of a natural resource is sustainable? Is the extraction and use of fossil fuels sustainable?
What are some of the ways in which countries around the world are practicing environmental stewardship? What can we learn from these practices?

3. What is a Natural Resource?
Definition: Something found in nature that people find useful
To meet our needs and wants (demands) we use a wide variety of resources (supply)
Canada is a very “resource rich” country, but we will also be looking at resources in other parts of the world.

4. Brainstorm
In your groups, brainstorm all of the natural resources that you know – write these ideas down and be prepared to share.

5. Types of Natural Resources
Natural resources can be organized into 3 categories:
Renewable Resources
Can replace themselves
Capable of re-growing or renewing themselves quickly
Trees, agriculture, fish
Non-renewable Resources
Gone once they are used
Created under quite specific conditions
Minerals, fossil (gold, iron) fuels (coal, petroleum)
Flow
Replaced by natural actions whether humans use them or not
exist as part of natural systems
E.g. Flowing water, solar, wind

6. Types of Natural Resources
Sometimes there is overlap in natural resource categories
For example, trees can’t grow back because of farming activities or minerals can be thought of renewable if recycled.

7. Sort your natural resources
As a class, sort the natural resources your group brainstormed into the three categories.
What is the biggest category?
Discuss the implications.

8. Recapping and looking in more detail...
The following video shows information about natural resources in more detail: (12:15)
Explaining Natural Resouces
What resources are identified that you missed during brainstorming? Add to the class list.

9. Looking at what you use everyday
Read the handout. Look at products you use everyday and check off the type of resource you think it is.
(5 min)

10. Supplying our Demands
Almost all natural resources must be changed before we can use them. These changes are called processes.
Example: Mined iron ore must be separated from waste rock before it is used to make iron and steel

11. Technology
Technology: a tool we use to change resources to better meet our needs (processing)
The changes in technology over time has greatly changed how we use natural resouces
Early technology (using animal skins for clothes)
Middle technology (weaving fabric out of plant material for cloth)
Modern technology (makes fabrics out of human-made materials such as nylon or lycra (think Lululemon!)

12. (see Physical Geo text page 170 – 173)
Technology
There are some countries and societies today that still use early or middle technology and this affects how they use their resources.
Consider the case study of the Yanomami people living in the rain forest between the Amazon and Orinoco rivers in northern Brazil and southern Venezuela.
(see Physical Geo text page 170 – 173)
Discussion point: Is technology good or bad? (Consider economic, social, environmental perspectives.)

13. Game Time!
You will participate in a natural resources simulation game where the object is for each group to construct as many paper chains as possible using construction paper, tape, and scissors. The craft supplies represent natural resources, and the chain represents a group or country’s wealth or success.
Like the real world, not all groups will be given the same amount or kind of resources.
How will you survive and thrive?
Let’s Play!!!

14. Inequality of Resources
What did it feel like to be the country with less natural and economic resources?
How do you deal with thing being unfair?
Consider this video: Miniature Earth
How do these people deal with inequalities?
What impacts do these inequalities have on global society?
How important a role do natural resources play in a country’s economic and social advancement?
Refer to lesson plan for this game to start off with specific questions about the game: Who was the winner, how did you trade, what did you do to make money? etc.