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Copyright © 2012-2019 Stephanie Elkowitz

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By purchasing this product, the purchaser receives a limited individual
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This license is not intended for use by organizations or multiple users,
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within a grade level. This resource is not to be shared with colleagues,
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 About this Product
Natural Resources HOMEWORK
This product includes homework assignments aligned to the interactive notebook
chapters of the same unit. There are 3 tiered tasks for each homework assignment:
• Task 1 questions probe lower order thinking. These questions require students
to define terms, complete sentences, explain a concept or label a diagram.
• Task 2 questions probe mid order thinking. These question requires students to
compare and contrast, graph data or apply or analyze information.
• Task 3 questions probe higher order thinking. These questions require students
to make predictions or judgements, evaluate information or illustrate a
concept.

Each homework is designed to be completed in 15 to 20 minutes when used as a

formative or summative assessment tool. In this way, the homework should be
assigned as at-home work following the lesson that covers the same material (for
example, homework #1 should be used as homework for INB lesson #1).

Homework assignments can be used in alternative ways:

• One-on-one intervention
• Sub work (when coupled with the INB chapters or reading passages)
• Work for early finishers, enrichment or “extra credit”
• In-class or take-home quizzes

© Stephanie Elkowitz
 About this Product
Natural Resources HOMEWORK
Homework is differentiated and tiered. A shape is used to differentiate concepts
and a “signal strength” is used to probe lower, mid and higher order thinking.

Differentiation Code
Homework assignments with a circle cover basic ideas most appropriate for
upper elementary (grade 3-5) students. These concepts should be
reviewed with middle school (grade 6-8) students.

Homework assignments with a square cover intermediate ideas most

appropriate for middle school students. These concepts may be
appropriate for high-achieving upper elementary students.

Homework assignments with a diamond cover advanced, traditionally high

school, ideas. Some of these concepts may be appropriate for middle
school students.

Tiered Code
Cards with a “low” signal strength assess students on the 1st and 2nd level
of Bloom’s taxonomy (knowledge and comprehension). These questions
assess the ability of students to remember, recall and understand facts.

Cards with a “medium” signal strength assess students on the 3rd and 4th
level of Bloom’s taxonomy (application and analysis). These questions
assess the ability of students to apply information to new situations and
examine information in detail.

Cards with a “high” signal strength assess students on the 5th and 6th level
of Bloom’s taxonomy (synthesis and evaluation). These questions assess
how students use information. They assess the ability of students to make
predictions using their knowledge and evaluate, judge or interpret new
information using their knowledge.

© Stephanie Elkowitz
 Table of Contents
Natural Resources HOMEWORK
Homework #1: Natural vs. Synthetic Resources........................................................4-5
Homework #2: Renewable vs. Nonrenewable Resources........................................6-7
Homework #3: Synthetic Products. ..........................................................................8-9
Homework #4: Distribution of Natural Resources................................................10-11
Homework #5: Effects of Uneven Distribution......................................................12-13

© Stephanie Elkowitz
Name: ___________________________________ Date: ________________
Natural vs. Synthetic Resources Homework

Task 1
Directions: Complete the sentences with terms from the word bank.

WORD BANK
Animals Clothing Electronics Medicine Natural
Plants Sun Synthetic

1. A _____________ resource is found in the natural environment.

2. A _____________ resource is made as a result of human manipulation or creation.
3. The _____________, _____________ and _____________ are natural resources.
4. _____________, _____________ and _____________ are synthetic resources.

Task 2
Directions: Use the Venn diagram to compare natural and synthetic resources.

Natural Resource Synthetic Resource

Task 3
Do you think natural or synthetic resources are more important to your way of life?
Justify your answer.
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________

© Stephanie Elkowitz
Name: ___________________________________ Date: ________________

AN
Natural vs. Synthetic Resources Homework

SW
E RK
Task 1

EY
Directions: Complete the sentences with terms from the word bank.

WORD BANK
Animals Clothing Electronics Medicine Natural
Plants Sun Synthetic

1. natural
A _____________ resource is found in the natural environment.
2. A _____________
synthetic resource is made as a result of human manipulation or creation.
3. sun
The _____________, plants
_____________ animals
and _____________ are natural resources.
4. Medicine
_____________, clothing
_____________ electronics
and _____________ are synthetic resources.

Task 2
Directions: Use the Venn diagram to compare natural and synthetic resources.

Natural Resource Synthetic Resource

Found in the natural Important to Not found in the

environment our way of life natural environment,
made from natural
Examples: Animals, resources
plants, soil, rocks, sun
Examples: Medicine,
clothing,
electronics

Task 3
Do you think natural or synthetic resources are more important to your way of life?
Justify your answer.
Answers will vary. Grade students’ responses based on their justification.
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________

© Stephanie Elkowitz
Name: ___________________________________ Date: ________________
Renewable vs. Nonrenewable Homework

Task 1
Directions: Complete the sentences with terms from the word bank.

WORD BANK
Animals Fossil Fuels Metals Minerals Nonrenewable
Renewable Plants Sunlight

1. A _____________ resource can be regenerated or replenished by natural processes.

2. There are limited amounts of _____________ resources on Earth.
3. _____________, _____________ and _____________ are renewable resources.
4. _____________, _____________ and _____________ are nonrenewable resources.

Task 2
Directions: Use the Venn diagram to compare renewable and nonrenewable resources.

Renewable Nonrenewable
Resource Resource

Task 3
What might happen to a renewable resource, like trees, if we use them faster than they
can be replenished? Justify your prediction.
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________

© Stephanie Elkowitz
Name: ___________________________________ Date: ________________

AN
Renewable vs. Nonrenewable Homework

SW
ERK
Task 1

EY
Directions: Complete the sentences with terms from the word bank.

WORD BANK
Animals Fossil Fuels Metals Minerals Nonrenewable
Renewable Plants Sunlight

1. renewable
A _____________ resource can be regenerated or replenished by natural processes.
2. There are limited amounts of _____________
nonrenewable resources on Earth.
3. Animals
_____________, plants
_____________ sunlight
and _____________ are renewable resources.
4. Fossil fuels
_____________, metals
_____________ minerals
and _____________ are nonrenewable resources.

Task 2
Directions: Use the Venn diagram to compare renewable and nonrenewable resources.

Renewable Nonrenewable
Resource Resource
Can be regenerated if A natural Cannot be regenerated
alive or replenished by resource or replenished by
biochemical processes found in the natural processes
natural
Theoretically, there are environment There is a finite
an infinite amount on amount on Earth
Earth

Task 3
What might happen to a renewable resource, like trees, if we use them faster than they
can be replenished? Justify your prediction.
The trees can become a nonrenewable resource. If the resource is used up so no
_______________________________________________________________________
more trees exist, then more trees cannot be regenerated or replenished.
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________

© Stephanie Elkowitz
Name: ___________________________________ Date: ________________
Synthetic Products Homework

Task 1
Directions: Answer the following questions.
1. What is a synthetic product?
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
2. How are synthetic products made?
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________

Task 2
Directions: Classify the following synthetic resources as animal-based, plant-based or
petroleum-based products. Some resources can made from more than one source.
Cosmetics Cotton t-shirt Food items Lotions Lubricants
Makeup Medicine Nylon Paper Plastics
Polyester Silk clothing Soap Tar

Plant-Based Products Animal-Based Products Petroleum-Based Products

Task 3
What are the pros and cons to making synthetic products from natural resources?
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________

© Stephanie Elkowitz
Name: ___________________________________ Date: ________________

AN
Synthetic Products Homework

SW
E RK
Task 1

EY
Directions: Answer the following questions.
1. What is a synthetic product?
A synthetic product is a man-made resource that is not found in the natural
___________________________________________________________________
environment.
___________________________________________________________________
2. How are synthetic products made?
Synthetic products are made through the process of manufacturing. They are
___________________________________________________________________
made from natural resources.
___________________________________________________________________

Task 2
Directions: Classify the following synthetic resources as animal-based, plant-based or
petroleum-based products. Some resources can made from more than one source.
Cosmetics Cotton t-shirt Food items Lotions Lubricants
Makeup Medicine Nylon Paper Plastics
Polyester Silk clothing Soap Tar

Plant-Based Products Animal-Based Products Petroleum-Based Products

Cosmetics Cosmetics Lubricants
Cotton t-shirt Food items Nylon
Food items Makeup Plastic
Lotions Medicine Polyester
Makeup Soap Tar
Medicine
Paper

Task 3
What are the pros and cons to making synthetic products from natural resources?
Answers will vary. Example: Many synthetic products are important to our way of life.
_______________________________________________________________________
Without them, we wouldn’t have certain medical treatments, food items or materials
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
we use to make clothing, tools and other everyday items. Chemically changing natural
_______________________________________________________________________
resources could make resources toxic or dangerous. Also, chemically changing natural
resources could deplete natural resources that other living things depend on.
_______________________________________________________________________

© Stephanie Elkowitz
Name: ___________________________________ Date: ________________
Distribution of Natural Resources Homework

Task 1
Directions: Answer the following questions.
1. What affects the distribution of biodiversity on Earth? Explain your answer.
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
2. What affects the distribution of fossil fuels on Earth? Explain your answer.
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
3. What affects the distribution of metals and minerals on Earth? Explain your answer.
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________

Task 2
Directions: According to the graphs, how are fertile soils and coal reserves distributed on
Earth? The darker the color, the greater the concentration of that resource.

Fertile Soil on Earth Location of Coal Reserves on Earth

_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________

Task 3
How do you think the distribution of natural resources, like fertile soil, affect the location
of human settlement? Justify your answer.
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________

© Stephanie Elkowitz
Name: ___________________________________ Date: ________________

AN
Distribution of Natural Resources Homework

SW
E RK
Task 1

EY
Directions: Answer the following questions.
1. What affects the distribution of biodiversity on Earth? Explain your answer.
Climate; living things tend to concentration in temperate or tropical areas where
___________________________________________________________________
it is warm and there is relatively high amounts of precipitation.
___________________________________________________________________
2. What affects the distribution of fossil fuels on Earth? Explain your answer.
Earth’s history; the location where ancient animals and plants lived as well as the
___________________________________________________________________
location of ancient swamps determines the location of fossil fuel reserves.
___________________________________________________________________
3. What affects the distribution of metals and minerals on Earth? Explain your answer.
Geologic processes; metal and mineral deposits tend to concentrate near tectonic
___________________________________________________________________
plate boundaries and areas of volcanic activity.
___________________________________________________________________

Task 2
Directions: According to the graphs, how are fertile soils and coal reserves distributed on
Earth? The darker the color, the greater the concentration of that resource.

Fertile Soil on Earth Location of Coal Reserves on Earth

Fertile soil and coal reserves are distributed unevenly on Earth. Fertile soil is
_______________________________________________________________________
concentrated in temperate regions that receive moderate to heavy precipitation, such
_______________________________________________________________________
as in Europe and India. Coal reserves are concentrated in United States, Russia, China
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
and Australia, the location of ancient swamps.

Task 3
How do you think the distribution of natural resources, like fertile soil, affect the location
of human settlement? Justify your answer.
Humans will settle where natural resources are concentrated. For example, humans
_______________________________________________________________________
will settle where there is fertile soil so they have a medium in which to grow crops
_______________________________________________________________________
needed for food.
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________

© Stephanie Elkowitz
Name: ___________________________________ Date: ________________
Effects of Uneven Distribution Homework

Task 1
Directions: Define the following terms.
Term Definition

Economy

Trade

Imperialism

Task 2
Directions: Answer the following questions.
1. How do the economic activities of a country depend on the abundance of natural
resources in that country?
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
2. How does the distribution of natural resources affect human settlement?
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
3. How can a country obtain natural resources that it lacks and needs?
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________

Task 3
Fossil fuels are important nonrenewable resources. They are concentrated in regions on
Earth. What do you think will happen when fossil fuel reserves becomes very limited?
Assume our dependence on fossil fuels is the same as it is today. Justify your answer.
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________

© Stephanie Elkowitz
Name: ___________________________________ Date: ________________

AN
Effects of Uneven Distribution Homework

SW
E RK
Task 1

EY
Directions: Define the following terms.
Term Definition

The wealth or resources of a country or region; the production or

Economy
consumption of goods and services; the management of resources

The exchange of resources, good or services for other resources,

Trade
goods or services

The extension of a country’s power or influence over another region

Imperialism
often due to resources in that area

Task 2
Directions: Answer the following questions.
1. How do the economic activities of a country depend on the abundance of natural
resources in that country?
People tend to have jobs that involve harvesting or using the resources abundant
___________________________________________________________________
in that country.
___________________________________________________________________
2. How does the distribution of natural resources affect human settlement?
___________________________________________________________________
People tend to settle and cluster in regions that have resources they need to
survive (such as fertile soil).
___________________________________________________________________
3. How can a country obtain natural resources that it lacks and needs?
The country can trade with other countries that have those resources in order to
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
obtain what it wants or needs

Task 3
Fossil fuels are important nonrenewable resources. They are concentrated in regions on
Earth. What do you think will happen when fossil fuel reserves becomes very limited?
Assume our dependence on fossil fuels is the same as it is today. Justify your answer.
Answers will vary. Grade students’ responses based on their justification.
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________

© Stephanie Elkowitz