What Is Renewable And Nonrenewable For Kids?

ByRiley Cox

What are resources?

Resources are things that we get from the earth that are useful to people. The main categories of resources include:

  • Food like fruits, vegetables, grains, meat, and dairy
  • Water from lakes, rivers, oceans, rain, and groundwater
  • Air that we breathe
  • Plants like trees, grasses, and flowers
  • Animals that provide food, help pollinate plants, or can be used for transportation or work
  • Materials like wood, metal, plastic, cotton, wool, and oil that are used to make things

All of these resources are gifts from nature that we depend on to live, build things, stay healthy, and be happy. It’s important to use resources wisely so that we conserve them for the future.

Renewable resources

Renewable resources are things we get from nature that can be replaced or renewed over time. These resources replenish themselves naturally. Some examples of renewable resources are the sun, wind, rain, trees, and food crops.

The sun is a renewable resource because the sun’s energy cannot be used up. Even though we use solar power to create electricity, the sun continues to shine and provide an endless supply of solar energy. Wind is also a renewable resource. As long as the wind blows, the energy it contains can be captured and used to make electricity through wind turbines.

Rain is considered a renewable resource because it is part of the natural water cycle. Water evaporates from oceans, lakes, and rivers and forms clouds. This water returns to earth in the form of rain or other precipitation like snow and hail. Even as we use water for drinking, irrigation, and other purposes, the global supply continually gets replenished through this cycle.

Trees and food crops are renewable resources because they can be regrown over time. Trees take years to mature but planting new trees helps replace those that get cut down. Food crops like fruits, vegetables, and grains are harvested seasonally but new crops grow each year from the same soil. As long as the soil remains fertile, food crops will continue to be renewable.

Nonrenewable resources

child planting a tree sapling

Nonrenewable resources are materials that exist in limited amounts and cannot be replaced quickly. Once these resources are used up, they are gone forever. Examples of nonrenewable resources include fossil fuels like oil, natural gas, and coal, as well as minerals like gold, silver, and iron ore.

Fossil fuels formed underground from the remains of plants and animals that lived millions of years ago. It took hundreds of millions of years for the organic matter to become the fossil fuel resources we use today. Once we use up our fossil fuel reserves, we cannot replace them on a meaningful timescale. The world’s supply of affordable natural gas, oil, and high-quality coal is finite.

Minerals also cannot be replaced or regenerated at a timescale meaningful to humans once reserves are depleted. While some minerals are more abundant than others, they are all limited based on natural geological processes and availability. Mining extracts these finite resources.

Since nonrenewable resources like oil, natural gas, coal, and minerals exist in fixed amounts and take an extremely long time to form naturally, they must be carefully managed as scarce and finite supplies. We cannot rely on them forever.

Using resources wisely

It’s important that we use resources carefully so that we don’t run out or damage the environment. Here are some tips for kids on using resources wisely:

Reduce – Try not to waste resources like water, electricity, paper, food, etc. Turn off lights and faucets when not in use. Eat all your food and don’t throw it away. Use only as much as you need.

Reuse – Before throwing something away, think about whether you can use it again or find another purpose for it. Reuse plastic containers, jars, bags and paper. Give old toys and clothes to siblings or friends. Upcycle items into something new.

Recycle – Put paper, plastic, glass and cans in the recycling bin, not the trash. Support recycling efforts in your home, school and community. Buy products made from recycled materials.

Rethink – Consider if there are more eco-friendly alternatives to products you use. For example, bring reusable bags when shopping rather than using paper or plastic bags. Choose rechargeable batteries instead of disposable ones.

Help clean up – Participate in litter clean-ups to prevent trash from polluting nature. Plant trees and gardens to help the environment. Care for parks, beaches and other shared spaces.

Saving resources protects the planet for future generations. By using less and reducing waste, kids can make a real difference!

Conserving Renewable Resources

Protecting habitats and ecosystems that provide renewable resources is critical. For example, forests provide lumber, which is a renewable resource if trees are replanted. However, if too many trees are cut down or forests are turned into land for buildings, then the lumber supply is no longer renewable. That’s why sustainable forestry techniques help conserve forests.

Farms also provide renewable resources like crops, fruits and vegetables. But overplanting crops without letting fields rest or adding nutrients back into the soil may harm farming in the long run. Crop rotation, letting fields lie fallow and using natural fertilizers can help keep farmland productive for many years.

Protecting natural areas like wetlands and coral reefs preserves the renewal of resources like fish, shellfish and plants. If these habitats are polluted or destroyed, many species will not survive. Conservation helps maintain balanced ecosystems that can replenish renewable natural resources.

Caring for the environment ensures we can enjoy renewable resources for generations to come. Reducing pollution, not wasting resources, recycling and conserving energy are all ways we can help conserve nature’s renewable bounty.

Recognizing resource scarcity

Nonrenewable resources like oil, natural gas, and coal are only available in limited amounts on Earth. We can’t make more of these resources quickly. As we use up our supplies of nonrenewables, less is available for the future. Scientists predict that at the rate we are using nonrenewables now, supplies may run out in the next 50-100 years.

What happens when supplies of nonrenewables run low or run out? We will need to find other sources of energy and materials. This is why it’s important that we develop new technologies and alternatives now, before our nonrenewable supplies are gone. Scientists and inventors are working hard to come up with better renewable options and improved ways to use the nonrenewables we have left.

Some alternatives to nonrenewables that are being developed include solar and wind power, electric cars, and new biofuels made from plants. Recycling and reusing materials also helps reduce the demand for limited nonrenewables. By recognizing resource scarcity now, we can innovate and provide for our future needs even with dwindling nonrenewable supplies.

Inventing and innovating

Human ingenuity leads to amazing new inventions that help meet resource challenges. Throughout history, people have come up with innovative solutions when resources were scarce.

For example, when wood became hard to find, inventors created new building materials like steel, concrete, and glass. When whale oil for lighting grew rare, scientists developed kerosene. More recently, solar panels and wind turbines were invented as clean alternatives to fossil fuels.

New technologies like electric cars, biodegradable plastics, and lab-grown meat also help reduce resource use. Kids today will grow up in a world with advanced batteries, smart grids, ocean energy, and more inventions that make society more sustainable.

Young inventors and engineers can help create the resource solutions of the future. Coming up with a new way to generate clean energy, capture water, or reuse materials could one day transform how people live. The key is creative thinking and never giving up, even when an idea seems impossible at first.

Caring for the earth

All living things depend on the earth and its environment. By caring for the earth, we help plants, animals, and people thrive. There are many small things kids can do every day to help protect the environment:

  • Turn off lights and electronics when not in use to conserve electricity.
  • Take shorter showers to reduce water usage.
  • Use reusable water bottles instead of plastic.
  • Recycle paper, glass, plastic and metals.
  • Plant a tree or start a garden.
  • Pick up trash when you see it.
  • Walk, bike or carpool instead of driving.
  • Eat less meat and dairy.

Caring for the environment starts with small daily actions. When many people make little changes, it adds up to a big difference! By protecting nature and conserving resources, we ensure the earth can provide for generations to come.

The future of resources

When we think about the future, it’s normal to feel both hopeful and worried. On one hand, we hope people will find new ways to use resources carefully so they last longer. We also hope more renewable options like solar and wind power will replace fuels like oil and gas that can run out.

The good news is, there are already scientists, inventors and kids like you working on these problems! As you grow up, you’ll have the chance to make a big difference too. Together, by reusing and recycling, finding renewables and using less energy, we can make the world healthier and our resources last longer.

Imagination and innovation will help create a brighter future, if we work at it. Each person’s small acts like turning off lights, walking more, or reusing bags and bottles really adds up over time. The most important renewable resource is the human mind and spirit. By sharing ideas and caring for the planet and each other, we can make sure earth’s resources are here for many generations to come.

Learn More

There are lots of great ways for kids to expand their learning about renewable and nonrenewable resources. Here are some recommendations:

Books:

  • The Magic School Bus and the Climate Challenge by Joanna Cole – Ms. Frizzle takes her class on a journey to understand climate change and how it relates to resources.
  • Just a Dream by Chris Van Allsburg – A boy realizes the importance of taking care of the earth after dreaming about a future with polluted air and water.
  • Why Should I Recycle Garbage? by Jen Green – Answers common questions kids have about recycling and its importance.

Websites and Games:

Activities:

  • Conduct a home energy audit to identify areas for conservation.
  • Visit a recycling center or landfill to see resource use firsthand.
  • Start composting food scraps at home or school.
  • Plant a garden using compost for fertilizer.

Learning about resources gives kids the knowledge to be environmentally conscious citizens. With some great books, websites and hands-on activities, parents and teachers can foster a passion for sustainability.

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