Lesson 17.

Earth’s Natural Resources

Objectives identify the different
1 natural resources that
At the end sustain life on Earth; and
of the
lesson, you explain how the natural
should be 2 resources sustain life.
able to:
 Learn about It!

Earth’s Natural Resources

● Natural resources are
materials or substances
such as minerals, forests,
water, and fertile land that
occur in nature and can be
used for economic gain.

The Philippines has rich natural

resources like extensive coastlines.
 Learn about It!

Earth’s Natural Resources

● Water

○ It is a major resource that

every organism needs in
order to survive.

○ Earth’s surface is mainly

composed of water (71%).
■ 97% saltwater The distribution of water in the Earth’s
■ 3% freshwater hydrosphere
 Learn about It!

Earth’s Natural Resources

● Water
○ Freshwater is inaccessible
as ice and little remains
as groundwater.

○ Salt water serves as a

sanctuary for different
marine life and provides
a wide variety of seafood. Fishing is one of the staple
sources of livelihood in PH.
 Learn about It!

Earth’s Natural Resources

● Water

○ Water can be used

for consumption
and irrigation in
agriculture.

Providing crops with water is

referred to as irrigation.
 Learn about It!

Earth’s Natural Resources

● Soil

○ It is the topmost
layer of the Earth.

○ It provides minerals
and physical support
for plants.
Soil is needed by plants for their
growth.
 Learn about It!

Earth’s Natural Resources

● Soil

○ Soil comes from the

weathered parts of rocks
which are transported and
deposited.

○ Weathering is the
breaking down of rocks
into smaller particles. Erosion of rocks
 Learn about It!

Earth’s Natural Resources

● Soil

○ The process of soil formation involves the interaction of

five factors:
■ Parent material
■ Living organisms
■ Climate through wind speeds or temperature
■ Topography
■ Time
 Learn about It!

Earth’s Natural Resources

● Minerals

○ Minerals are solid

elements which
naturally occur
underground.

○ They may look like Philippines is one of the biggest sources of

ordinary rocks or gold (left), copper (right), nickel, iron, and
manganese.
magnificent crystals.
 Learn about It!

Earth’s Natural Resources

● Minerals

○ Metallic minerals are

those with a high
specific gravity and
metallic luster.
Talc (left) and marble crystals (right) are
○ Nonmetallic minerals examples of nonmetallic minerals.
are those that lack
metallic properties.
 Learn about It!

Earth’s Natural Resources

● Life Forms

○ They are the different

living organisms which
inhabit an environment.

○ The two broad categories

of life forms are flora Tarsier (left) and Phil. pitcher plant
(plants) and fauna (right) are examples of endemic
(animals). species in the Philippines.
 Learn about It!

Earth’s Natural Resources

● Energy

○ Fossil fuels
○ Geothermal energy
○ Hydroelectric energy
○ Biofuel
○ Nuclear energy

Palinpinon geothermal power plant

in Negros Oriental
 Learn about It!

Earth’s Natural Resources

● Energy

○ Fossil fuels come from

decayed materials of
plants and animals
which lived millions of
years ago.

■ Coal
Lignite, a type of coal found in
■ Natural Gas nature
 Learn about It!

Earth’s Natural Resources

● Energy

○ Fossil fuels

■ Coal is a black rock formed

from plant remains.

■ Natural gas is a naturally

occurring gas mixture
Petroleum in gas stations is an
consisting of methane. example of a natural gas.
 Learn about It!

Earth’s Natural Resources

● Energy

○ Geothermal Energy is
energy harnessed from
volcanic vents and hot
springs.

○ Philippines is regarded as
the second top producer
Palinpinon geothermal power
of geothermal energy. plant in Negros Oriental
 Learn about It!

Earth’s Natural Resources

● Energy

○ Hydroelectric power
plants harness energy
from the flowing water
from dams, rivers, and
waterfalls.

Ambuklao dam in Benguet is the major

hydroelectric power plant in the country.
 Learn about It!

Earth’s Natural Resources

● Energy

○ Biofuel is an energy
resource from agriculture
in the form of produce or
waste like animal
excrements, microalgae,
and the unused parts of
crops such as corn,
Dried corn husks can be used to
wheat, and potatoes. produce biofuel.
 Learn about It!

Earth’s Natural Resources

● Energy

○ Nuclear energy is harnessed

when an atom is split (nuclear
fission) or when atoms collide
(nuclear fusion).

○ It can provide the most energy

among all energy resources. A nuclear power plant in USA
 Learn about It!

Earth’s Natural Resources

● Energy

○ The Philippines almost

had a nuclear power plant
but construction was
halted due to:
■ location - near a
dormant volcano
■ quality - unsuitable Unfinished nuclear power plant
construction materials in Bataan
Key Points

Materials coming from the environment used to

1 sustain life are called natural resources.

Life forms are the different living organisms

2 interacting with each other. The two broad categories
of life forms are the flora (plants) and fauna (animals).
Key Points

Energy resources of the Philippines mostly come from

3 geothermal energy, hydroelectric energy, and
fossil fuel combustion.

Resources which can be replaced in a short period of

time are called renewable resources. Nonrenewable
4 resources are those which cannot be replaced or
replenished immediately.
 Check Your Understanding

Identify the natural resource described in the

statement.
1. This particular energy resource is harnessed when an atom is
split (nuclear fission) or when atoms collide (nuclear fusion).
2. These rock-like resources are natural elements occurring
underground.
3. This resource is the result of weathering, transportation, and
deposition of rocks.
4. This is a major resource needed by all organisms.
5. This involves all the flora and fauna found within the country.
 Challenge Yourself

The Bataan Nuclear Power

Plant was built in the 1970s
however, it was not put
into use. Do you think the
nuclear power plant will
increase our energy yield?
Explain your answer.
 Photo Credits

Slide 17: This file, Ambuklao Dam captured by Mitchell Yumul, by Watersanitationandsupply, at
Malayalam Wikipedia, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 via Creative Commons.

Slide 20: This file, Bataan Nuclear Powerplant, by Jiru27, at Malayalam Wikipedia, is licensed under CC
CC BY-SA 3.0 via Creative Commons.
 Bibliography

Al Jazeera English. 2017. “Philippines looks to tackle severe water pollution.” Accessed July 24, 2018.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HW0MWfK4M7o

Anderson, Brenda. 1998. “Adaptive Earth Science Activities.” West Virginia Geological Survey. Accessed July
24, 2018. http://www.wvgs.wvnet.edu/www/geoeduc/adaptiveactivities.PDF

Eco-bricks. 2015. “How to make eco-bricks?” Accessed July 14, 2018 https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=MQYsXxHKgMk

R.E.A.C.T. n.d. “Renewable Energy Activities-Choices for Tomorrow: Teacher’s Activity Guide for Middle-Level
Grades 6-8.” Accessed July 25, 2018. https://www.nrel.gov/docs/gen/fy01/30927.pdf

Teach Engineering. n.d. “I Feel Renewed!: Earth Resources Distribution and Population Impact.” Accessed
August 12, 2018. https://www.teachengineering.org/activities/view/cub_environ_lesson03_activity3