Natural Resources - Class 4 Notes & Olympiad Questions

Environment

a) An environment is a place where both living and non-living things exist together.
b) Living things in the environment are plants, animals, and humans, and we call them the "biotic elements."
c) Non-living things in our environment include air, water, soil, sunlight, minerals, and more, and we call them the "abiotic elements."
d) When living and non-living things come together in an environment, we call it an "ecosystem."
e) In an ecosystem, living organisms rely on non-living things for their survival. For example, plants and animals need water and air to live.
f) Ecosystems can be of different sizes and found in different places such as forests, oceans, and lakes.
g) You can find hundreds of different kinds of animals and plants living in an ecosystem. Each of them plays an important role in maintaining the balance and harmony of the environment. It's like a big community where everyone depends on each other to survive and thrive.

Natural Resources

a) Natural resources are things that are found in nature and are really important for all living things on Earth to survive.
b) These resources are not made by humans, but they are provided to us by nature.
c) Natural resources can be both living and non-living things that are useful to people.
d) Some examples of natural resources are water, air, soil, plants, animals, and minerals found on the Earth.
e) Natural resources can be renewable and non-renewable.

Renewable Sources

a) Some natural resources are called renewable sources. That means they can be replenished or replaced after a short period of time.
b) Examples of renewable sources are solar energy, hydropower, wind, and biomass.
c) Solar energy comes from the sun and is free and can be used to make electricity.
d) Wind energy can also be used to generate electricity.
e) Hydroelectricity uses the power of flowing water to create electricity.
f) Geothermal energy comes from the heat inside the Earth and can be used to heat our homes.
g) One really great thing about renewable sources is that they don't produce a lot of waste or pollution. They help us to take care of the environment and keep it clean and healthy for ourselves and for future generations.

Non-renewable Sources

a) Non-renewable sources are things that we use for energy, but they cannot be replaced or replenished quickly.
b) Examples of non-renewable sources are petrol, coal, and natural gas. These sources take a really long time to form in nature.
c) Fossil fuels like coal and natural gas take many years, even centuries, to develop, and crude oil takes millions of years to form.
d) When we burn these non-renewable sources of energy, they release harmful gases into the air.
e) These gases can cause health problems like irritation in our lungs, eyes, nose, and throat. They can make it hard for us to breathe and damage our lungs and respiratory system.
f) Living things, like plants, animals, and humans, depend on their environment to survive. If the environment gets damaged, it can affect the ability of plants to grow and provide food for other living things.
g) Slowly, this damage can spread to the whole ecosystem and harm all the other plants and animals living there.

So, it's important for us to take care of our environment and use renewable sources of energy whenever possible. This way, we can help protect our health and the health of the Earth.

Differences between Renewable and Non-renewable Sources of Energy