What Are Natural Resources?

Natural resources are materials found in nature that other living things can use. We use natural resources daily, such as water, plants, animals, minerals, and many more! If your students are learning about natural resources, this set of task cards can be the perfect addition to your science unit. This resource includes 16 different task cards covering what natural resources are, how they are used, where they are found, etc.

Through this activity, students will explore characteristics of natural resources that make them useful in products.

Tips for Differentiation + Scaffolding 

A team of dedicated, experienced educators created this resource to support your science lessons. 

In addition to individual student work time, use these natural resources task cards to enhance learning through guided science groups, whole class lessons, or remote learning assignments. 

If you have a mixture of above and below-level learners, check out these suggestions for keeping students on track with the concepts: 

🆘 Support Struggling Students

Help students who need support by pairing them up with other students to complete the task cards. Additionally, invite students to reference posters or anchor charts from previous lessons.

➕ Challenge Fast Finishers

For students who need a bit of a challenge, encourage them to create a list of natural resources on the back of their recording sheet.

🛴 Scoot Activity

Place the cards around the room in numerical order and give each student a recording sheet. Assign students or pairs to a starting point card. Give students time to review the card and record their answer in the corresponding space on their paper. Students will rotate to the next card when you say, “SCOOT!” Continue in this manner until students return to their starting point. 

👋 Exit Ticket 

Use these cards as a formative assessment after your lesson. Pick a random assortment of cards and project them on the board for the whole class to see. Students can record their answers on a sheet of paper, sticky note, or their notebook. 

Easily Prepare This Resource for Your Students

Use the dropdown icon on the Download button to choose between the color PDF, black and white PDF, or editable Google Slides version of this resource. A recording sheet and answer key are also included with this download. 

Print on cardstock for added durability and longevity. Place all pieces in a folder or large envelope for easy access. 

To keep the task cards out of pockets or under desks, punch a hole in the corner of each to place them on a binder ring. 

Sustainability Tip: Print a few recording sheets on cardstock and slip them into dry-erase sleeves. Students can record their answers with a whiteboard marker, then erase and reuse them.  

This resource was created by Melissa McLaren, a teacher in Massachusetts and Teach Starter Collaborator. 

Don’t stop there! We’ve got more activities and resources that cut down on lesson planning time:  

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How We Use Natural Resources – Worksheet

Explore the characteristics of natural resources and what makes them useful in products and materials with this worksheet.

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Natural Resources Vocabulary Worksheets

Practice and review vocabulary terms associated with natural resources with this worksheet pack.

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Match It Up! Natural Resources – Worksheet

Match natural resources with how they are used with the help of this worksheet.