6th grade - Science class
Renewable and non-renewable resources
Environmental Solutions
As the human population grows, it will need more
resources. People will need food, healthcare,
transportation, and waste disposal. What does this mean
for the Earth?
All of these needs will have an impact on the Earth. If
people don’t use resources wisely, people will continue
to pollute the air, soil, and water. More natural habitats
could be lost. Many species could die out as a result. But
there are many things
people can do to protect the environment.
Conservation
One way to care for the Earth is through conservation.
Conservation is the preservation and wise use
of natural resources. If you ride your bike instead of
riding in a car, you conserve fuel. At the same time, you
prevent air pollution. You can use organic compost
instead of chemical fertilizer in your garden. Doing so
conserves the resources needed to make the fertilizer.
Also, you may reduce soil and water pollution.
Practicing conservation means using fewer natural
resources. Conservation helps reduce waste and
pollution. Also, conservation can help prevent habitat
destruction. They describe three ways to conserve
resources: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle.
Reduce
What is the best way to conserve Earth’s natural
resources? Use less of them! Doing so helps reduce
waste and pollution.
Reducing Waste and Pollution
As much as one-third of the waste produced by some
countries is packaging material. Products can be
wrapped in less paper and plastic to reduce waste. For
example, fast-food restaurants used to serve sandwiches
in large plastic containers. Today, sandwiches are
usually wrapped in thin paper instead. This paper is
more biodegradable than plastic. Something that is
biodegradable can be broken down by living organisms,
such as bacteria. Many plastics are now biodegradable.
So, they break down more quickly than plastics once did.
Many people and companies are using less-
hazardous materials in making their products. For
example, some farmers don’t use synthetic chemicals on
their crops. Instead, they practice organic farming. They
use mulch, compost, manure, and natural pest control.
Agricultural specialists are also working on
farming techniques that are better for the environment.
Reducing the Use of Nonrenewable Resources
Some scientists are looking for sources of energy that
can replace fossil fuels. For example, solar energy can be
used to power homes. Scientists are studying power
sources such as wind, tides, and falling
water. Car companies have developed electric, and
hydrogen fueled automobiles. Driving these cars uses
fewer fossil fuels and produces less pollution than
driving gas-fueled cars does.
Reuse
Do you get hand-me-down clothes from an older
sibling? Do you try to fix broken sports equipment
instead of throwing it away? If so, you are helping
conserve resources by reusing products.
Reusing Products
Every time you reuse a plastic bag, one bag fewer needs
to be made. Reusing the plastic bag at the grocery store
is just one way to reuse the bag. Reusing products is an
important way to conserve resources. You might be
surprised at how many materials can be reused. For
example, building materials can be reused. Wood,
bricks, and tiles can be used in new structures. Old tires
can be reused, too. They can be reused for playground
surfaces. Some tires are even reused to build new
homes!
Reusing Water
About 100 billion liters of water are used each day in
American homes. Most of this water goes down the
drain. Many communities are experiencing water
shortages. Some of these communities are experimenting
with reusing, or reclaiming, wastewater. One way to
reclaim water is to use organisms to clean the water.
These organisms include plants and filter-feeding
animals, such as clams. Often, reclaimed water isn’t pure
enough to drink. But it can be used to water crops,
lawns, and golf courses. Sometimes, reclaimed water is
returned to underground water supplies.
Recycle
Another example of reuse is recycling. Recycling is the
recovery of materials from waste. Sometimes, recyclable
items, such as paper, are used to make the same kinds of
products. Other recyclable items are made into different
products. For example,
yard clippings can be recycled into a natural fertilizer.
Recycling Trash
Plastics, paper, aluminum, wood, glass, and cardboard
are examples of materials that can be recycled. Every
week, about half a million trees are used to make Sunday
newspapers. Recycling newspapers could save millions
of trees. Recycling aluminum saves 95% of the energy
needed to change raw ore into aluminum. Glass can be
recycled over and over again to make new bottles and
jars.
Many communities make recycling easy. Some cities
provide containers for glass, plastic, aluminum, and
paper. People can leave these containers on the curb.
Each week, the materials are picked up for recycling.
Other cities have centers where people can take
materials for recycling.
Recycling
Resources
Waste that can be
burned can also be
used to generate
electricity. Electricity
is generated in waste-
to-energy plants.
Using solid waste to make electricity is an example of
resource recovery. Some companies are
beginning to make electricity with their own waste.
Doing so saves the companies money and conserves
resources. About 16% of the solid waste in the United
States is burned in waste-to-energy plants. But some
people are concerned that these plants pollute the air.
Other people worry that the plants reduce recycling.
Maintaining Biodiversity
You know the three Rs. What else can you do to help the
environment? You can help maintain biodiversity! So, that allows them to be replenished naturally.
how does biodiversity help the environment? • Learn about local issues. Attend local meetings
Imagine a forest that has only one kind of tree. If a about laws and projects that may affect your local
disease hit that species, the entire forest might die. Now, environment. Research the impact of the project, and let
imagine a forest that has 10 species of trees. If a disease people know about your concerns.
hits one species, 9 other species will remain. Bananas are
an important crop. But banana fields are not very
• Develop alternative energy sources. Increase
the use of
diverse. Fungi threaten the survival of bananas. Farmers
renewable energy, such as solar power and wind power.
often use chemicals
to control fungi. Growing other plants among the What You Can Do
bananas, or increasing biodiversity, can also prevent the Reduce, reuse, and recycle—these are jobs for everyone.
spread of fungi. Biodiversity is also important because People need to monitor their environment to make sure it
each species has a unique role in an ecosystem. Losing stays healthy. People need to take steps to maintain air,
one species could disrupt water, and soil quality. And people need to practice
an entire ecosystem. For example, if an important stewardship, or the careful use of resources.
predator is lost, its prey will multiply. The prey might
eat the plants in an area, keeping other animals from Activities
getting food. Eventually, even the prey won’t have food.
1. Which of the following is NOT a strategy to
So, the prey will starve. protect the environment?
Protecting Species a.preserving entire habitats
One way to maintain biodiversity is to protect individual b. using pesticides that target all insects
species. In the United States, a law called the c. reducing deforestation
Endangered Species Act was designed to do just that. d. increasing the use of solar power
Endangered species are put on a special list. The law
2. Conservation
forbids activities that would harm a a. has little effect on the environment.
species on this list. The law also requires the b. is the use of more natural resources.
development of recovery programs for each endangered c. involves using more fossil fuels.
species. Some endangered species, such as the California d. can prevent pollution
condor, are now increasing in number. Anyone can ask
3. Use the pie
the government to add a species to or remove a species
graph below to
from the endangered species list. This process often
answer the
takes more than a year to complete. The government questions that
must follow:
study the species and its habitat before making a
decision.

Protecting Habitats
Waiting until a species is almost extinct to
begin protecting it is like waiting until your teeth are
rotting to begin brushing them. Scientists want to
prevent species from becoming endangered and from
becoming extinct. Plants, animals, and microorganisms
4. If half of the forest land were made into preserves, what
depend on each other. Each organism is part of a huge,
percentage of total land would be
interconnected web of organisms. parks and preserves?
The entire web should be protected to protect
these organisms. To protect the web, complete 5. If 10% of the cropland were not planted, what
habitats, not just individual species, must be percentage of land would be used for crops?
preserved. Nature reserves are one way to protect
entire habitats.

Environmental Strategies
Laws have been passed to help protect the Earth’s
environment. By following those laws, people can help
the environment. People can also use the following
environmental strategies:

• Reduce pollution. Recycle as much as possible

and buy recycled products. Don’t dump wastes on
farmland, in forests, or into rivers, lakes, and oceans.
Participate in a local cleanup project.
• Reduce pesticide use. Use only pesticides that
are targeted specifically for harmful insects. Avoid
pesticides that might harm beneficial insects, such as
ladybugs or spiders. Use natural pesticides that interfere
with how certain insects grow, develop, and reproduce.
• Protect habitats. Preserve entire habitats. Conserve
wetlands. Reduce deforestation. Use resources at a rate