Natural Resources Sorting Worksheet - Free Printable

Problem Overview:

The task is to categorize a list of natural resources into four categories: renewable (plants, animals) and nonrenewable (minerals, fossil fuels). Some words may fit into more than one category.

List of Words:

- paper
- tin
- glass
- fruits
- vegetables
- plastics
- structures
- sand
- natural gas
- rubber
- iron
- clay
- food
- medicine
- clothing
- aluminum
- oil
- companions

Solution Approach:

1. Renewable Resources:
- Plants: These are resources that come from plant life and can be replenished naturally over time.
- Animals: These are resources that come from animal life and can also be replenished naturally over time.

2. Nonrenewable Resources:
- Minerals: These are naturally occurring inorganic substances that are finite and cannot be replenished on a human timescale.
- Fossil Fuels: These are energy sources formed from the remains of ancient plants and animals over millions of years and are finite.

Categorization:

#### Renewable Resources:
- Plants: Fruits, vegetables, rubber, food, companions.
- Explanation: These resources are derived from plant life and can be replenished through natural processes or farming.
- Animals: None explicitly listed in the given words.

#### Nonrenewable Resources:
- Minerals: Tin, iron, aluminum, sand, clay.
- Explanation: These are inorganic substances found in the Earth's crust and are finite.
- Fossil Fuels: Natural gas, oil.
- Explanation: These are energy sources formed from ancient organic matter and are nonrenewable.

Final Answer:

```
Renewable:
- Plants: fruits, vegetables, rubber, food, companions
- Animals: None

Nonrenewable:
- Minerals: tin, iron, aluminum, sand, clay
- Fossil Fuels: natural gas, oil
```

Notes:

- Words like "paper," "glass," "plastics," "structures," "clothing," and "medicine" are not directly natural resources but are products made from natural resources. They should not be categorized here.
- "Companions" is an unusual word in this context and does not fit any of the categories provided. It might be a typo or an error in the worksheet.

This categorization ensures that each resource is placed in the most appropriate category based on its origin and renewability.