Science.2.11.A

Provide students with a set of cards with pictures of natural and manmade resources. Some examples of natural resources might include water, coal, soil, iron, trees, and sheep. Some examples of manmade resources might include plastic, steel, baking soda, and paper. Have students sort the cards into two piles, natural and manmade resources. Students should be able to explain that natural resources occur in nature and that manmade resources require some sort of processing before they are usable. Some items, such as firewood or filtered water, may cause a deeper discussion. Firewood and filtered water are both still natural resources even though their shape or composition has been modified.  
 

Examples of natural resources include air, water, rocks (coal, chalk), soil, the sun, some metals (iron, gold, silver), crude oil, plants (wood, cotton), and animals. Examples of manmade resources include plastic, steel, and other alloys, polyester, baking soda, and current electricity.
One common misconception is that processing a natural resource always creates a manmade resource.   Sawing wood for a fire or filtering water to drink does not create a manmade resource. Products can be made from either natural or manmade resources. Processing crude oil into plastic creates a manmade resource. Making a milk jug from the plastic creates a manmade product from a manmade resource. Creating a chair out of wood makes a product out of a natural resource.