Renewable and Non-Renewable Resources exercise - Free Printable

Let's solve this Grade 7 Geography worksheet on Renewable and Non-Renewable Resources.

We need to classify each of the 11 resources listed as either Renewable or Non-Renewable. Here's a breakdown with explanations:

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🔹 Renewable Resources:

These are natural resources that can be replenished naturally over time (within a human timescale) and are not depleted when used.

🔸 Non-Renewable Resources:

These are finite resources that take millions of years to form and cannot be replaced once used up.

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Now, let’s go through each one:

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1) Wood / Lumber 🌲
✔ Renewable
→ Trees can be replanted and regrown. If managed sustainably (like in reforestation), wood is renewable.

2) Minerals / Metal ⚒️
✘ Non-Renewable
→ Metals like iron, copper, etc., come from mining. They take millions of years to form and cannot be replaced quickly.

3) Oil 🛢️
✘ Non-Renewable
→ Oil is a fossil fuel formed from ancient organic matter over millions of years. Once used, it cannot be replaced in a short time.

4) Plastic 🧴🧴
✘ Non-Renewable
→ Most plastic is made from petroleum (oil), which is non-renewable. Although some bioplastics exist, traditional plastic is derived from fossil fuels.

5) Glass 🍷
✘ Non-Renewable
→ Glass is made from sand (quartz), limestone, and other minerals. While the raw materials are abundant, they are finite and not renewed quickly. Also, glass itself isn’t "renewable" — though it's recyclable, the original source is non-renewable.

6) Solar / Sun ☀️☀️
✔ Renewable
→ The sun will continue to shine for billions of years. Solar energy is endlessly available and sustainable.

7) Gas (Natural Gas) 🔥
✘ Non-Renewable
→ Natural gas is a fossil fuel formed from decomposed organic matter. It takes millions of years to form and is finite.

8) Nuclear Power ⚠️☢️
✘ Non-Renewable
→ Nuclear power uses uranium or plutonium, which are mined minerals. These are finite and not renewable. (Note: Some argue about nuclear fusion, but current nuclear power is based on fission using non-renewable fuel.)

9) Coal 💨
✘ Non-Renewable
→ Coal is a fossil fuel formed over millions of years from plant remains. Once burned, it cannot be replaced in a human timeframe.

10) Wind 🌬️🌀
✔ Renewable
→ Wind is caused by the sun heating the Earth unevenly. It’s continuously generated and never runs out.

11) Water / Hydro 💧💧
✔ Renewable
→ Water is part of the water cycle (evaporation, precipitation, runoff). Hydropower uses flowing water, which is constantly renewed by nature.

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✔ Final Answer Table:

| # | Resource | Renewable? | Non-Renewable? |
|---|--------------------|------------|----------------|
| 1 | Wood / Lumber | ✔ Yes | ✘ No |
| 2 | Minerals / Metal | ✘ No | ✔ Yes |
| 3 | Oil | ✘ No | ✔ Yes |
| 4 | Plastic | ✘ No | ✔ Yes |
| 5 | Glass | ✘ No | ✔ Yes |
| 6 | Solar / Sun | ✔ Yes | ✘ No |
| 7 | Gas | ✘ No | ✔ Yes |
| 8 | Nuclear Power | ✘ No | ✔ Yes |
| 9 | Coal | ✘ No | ✔ Yes |
|10 | Wind | ✔ Yes | ✘ No |
|11 | Water / Hydro | ✔ Yes | ✘ No |

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📝 Summary:

- Renewable Resources (4): Wood, Solar, Wind, Water/Hydro
- Non-Renewable Resources (7): Minerals/Metal, Oil, Plastic, Glass, Gas, Nuclear Power, Coal

> 💡 Tip: Remember, renewable means "can be replaced naturally in a reasonable time." Non-renewable means "once used, gone forever."

Let me know if you'd like this turned into a printable chart!