Protecting Earth’s Resources introduces Grade 5 students to real-world examples and fundamental concepts that will be explored in greater depth in later grades. Students will research efforts that many communities take to reduce the impacts of using natural resources. Using their knowledge of how water, air, and land are used for daily needs, students create a series of action/protection plans, which they will have the option to present to a selected audience of experts. Each part of this unit engages students to learn of specific natural resources used to meet human needs and how communities work to minimize any negative effects of use.

Protecting Earth’s Resources introduces students to the importance of caring for the renewable and nonrenewable resources of our modern life—for agriculture, transportation, industry, and daily needs. As they read, they understand that use of these resources also can have negative effects on the environment, even when the resources are helpful to people across the world. The erosion of land, acid rain, and air and water pollution are just some of the consequences that may result from the use of natural resources by a growing population.

As students read Protecting Earth’s Resources, they learn that humans, however, can draw upon scientific principles to monitor and protect the environment. Through scientific practices and technology, all of us can detect when air, water, land, and ecosystems are changing and when they might be threatened. They see examples of applying scientific ideas to protect Earth’s resources and our environment.