Distribution of Natural Resources 7 th Grade PSI Science

Transcription

1 Distribution of Natural Resources 7 th Grade PSI Science Name Directions: Humans and animals use natural resources every day. But where are these resources found? The maps below show the distribution of several different resources around the world. Use these maps to answer the following questions for EACH natural resource map shown. Place your answers in a table like the sample shown. Freshwater Availability image from grida.no

2 Oil Reserves image from usgs.gov Coal Deposits image from mapsofworld.com

3 Various Mineral Deposits Copper Deposits image from mrdata.usgs.gov

4 Natural Resource Freshwater Oil Coal Minerals Copper Importance to humans Heavily Concentrated In: Least Concentrated In: Hypothesis for uneven global distribution WILL BE USED LATER. Leave blank Questions 1. What is the importance of the natural resource to humans? 2. What part(s) of the world is it most concentrated? 3. What part(s) of the world is it least concentrated? 4. What are some possible reasons for the uneven distribution of the natural resource?

5 Teacher Guide Before discussing the geological processes that are responsible for the distribution of various natural resources, have students examine the maps and answer the questions to see how much they know. These maps are also included in the presentation (slides 42-46) so you may show them on the board as students work on this activity or used during discussion. This may be done independently or in a group to encourage discussion. Encourage the students to brainstorm all possibilities for the last question. They should be encouraged to write down whatever hypotheses they have even if they are proven incorrect later on. After students have completed the questions, discuss answers as a class (project slides on board during discussion). Discuss possible reasons for uneven distribution of resources and what this means for people living in different parts of the world. Questions for discussion might include: How do you think the distribution of these resources affect the economy of different countries? How does it affect the citizens lives? Are these resources renewable or nonrenewable? What will happen to the concentration of these resources if they become exhausted? This will segue into the next section on geological processes as well as get the students revisiting what renewable versus nonrenewable means in terms of natural resources. After you have gone through the slides on geological processes (slides 47-67), have the students go back and evaluate their original hypothesis for the uneven global distribution of natural resources. Then have them fill in the last column Geological Processes for Uneven Distribution. Suggested answers: Natural Importance to Resource humans Freshwater we drink it to support important body functions to keep us alive Heavily Concentrated In: Canada, western South America, Australia and Russia Least Concentrate d In: Northern Africa, part of Northern Europe, India, Iran and Saudi Arabia Hypothesis for uneven global distribution Geological Processes for uneven distribution Amount of rainwater received, proximity to streams, lakes and rivers, capability of rocks to hold water in aquifers (porous vs.

6 Oil used as an energy source for electricity which we use everyday for things essential for life like food production, heat, etc. Saudi Arabia, parts of northern Russia, parts of west and North Africa, a few spots in Europe Coal same as oil northeastern part of Russia, parts of central and eastern US, northwestern Canada and southeaster Australia Minerals used for constructing many things we use daily from bridges, planes, buildings and equipment needed for food production Each continent seems to have some mineral deposits. They tend to dominate on the western edges of continents though there are deposits along the eastern edges of South America, Africa and Eurasia. A majority of the rest of the world A majority of the rest of the world north central Africa, China non-porous) Proximity to organic sedimentary layers from prehistoric times. If animals and plants did not populate that area millions of years ago, then there is less chance of oil reserves being found here. Same as above. Distribution is based on whether or not the area is a hotspot for igneous and metamorphic processes which is primarily determined by plate tectonics. Most of these processes will occur where plates meet which

7 Copper see above. Also used for electrical wiring western edges of North and South America, eastern edges of Australia, scattered in Europe and Asia Africa is generally at the edges of continents, at mountain ranges or in mid-ocean ridges. see above