Children's Books
How Does a Plant Become Oil? (How Does it Happen?) By Linda Tagliaferro. (2009). 32p. Heinemann-Raintree, (978-1410934512). Gr. 2-5.
What tiny sea plants decompose to form oil? How did ancient Egyptians use oil to preserve mummies? What are the dangers of using fossil fuels? This series explores the causes and effects that shape our world. From the underwater volcanoes that sprout into islands, to the rushing waterfalls that spark electric currents, this series demonstrates how both natural and man-made phenomena occur.
What tiny sea plants decompose to form oil? How did ancient Egyptians use oil to preserve mummies? What are the dangers of using fossil fuels? This series explores the causes and effects that shape our world. From the underwater volcanoes that sprout into islands, to the rushing waterfalls that spark electric currents, this series demonstrates how both natural and man-made phenomena occur.
The Little Acorn. By Christa Kauble. Illus. by Mary Jo Tannehill. (2008). 24p. Forest Service, (978-0160817014). Gr. K-2.
This labor of love by USDA staff members conveys the seasonal cycle of tree growth, the importance of trees in soil conservation, water purification, and benefits to wildlife, as seen by one of the forest's inhabitants. It is suitable for preschool and early elementary school students.
This labor of love by USDA staff members conveys the seasonal cycle of tree growth, the importance of trees in soil conservation, water purification, and benefits to wildlife, as seen by one of the forest's inhabitants. It is suitable for preschool and early elementary school students.
Using Plants (Read and Learn: Exploring Earth's Resources) (Read and Learn: Exploring Earth's Resources). By Sharon Katz Cooper. (2007). 24p. Raintree Publishers, (978-1406206197). Gr. 1-4.
This book answers the questions: What are plants? Do all plants look alike? What do plants need to grow? How do we use plants?
This book answers the questions: What are plants? Do all plants look alike? What do plants need to grow? How do we use plants?
Plants: A Resource Our World Depends On (Managing Our Resources). By Ian Graham. (2005). 32p. Heinemann-Raintree, (978-1403456274). Gr. 2-5.
Using a question-and-answer format, describes the importance of plants as a natural resource, discusses their many uses, and tells why it is important to protect some types of plants.
Using a question-and-answer format, describes the importance of plants as a natural resource, discusses their many uses, and tells why it is important to protect some types of plants.
Web Sites for Kids
Where is Wood? - Interactive Game
Identify different objects and discover how they came from trees.
How Plants Grow - Interactive Game
Learn about how plants grow by experimenting with this interactive science activity. Using heat & water, see if you can make the plant grow to a healthy size. Too much sun & moisture can have a negative effect on the plant though so be careful when giving it nutrients. Keep the amounts in balance and see how long you can keep the plant growing healthily. Experiment with different conditions, what does closing the blinds and removing the sunlight do? What happens if you forget to water the plant or add too much water? How about if the conditions become too hot or too cold? Can you take care of the plant for 4 weeks? Take up the challenge and give it a try. This fun, educational game is perfect for kids.
Natural Resources - Video
A 10 minute video that explains the importance of trees as a natural resource. Easy for kids to understand.
Greenhouse Gas Calculator - Interactive Game
In this activity, students will choose a crop, how to treat the soil (till, fertilizer, etc.), and see how their decisions affected the crops and the surrounding environment.
Identify different objects and discover how they came from trees.
How Plants Grow - Interactive Game
Learn about how plants grow by experimenting with this interactive science activity. Using heat & water, see if you can make the plant grow to a healthy size. Too much sun & moisture can have a negative effect on the plant though so be careful when giving it nutrients. Keep the amounts in balance and see how long you can keep the plant growing healthily. Experiment with different conditions, what does closing the blinds and removing the sunlight do? What happens if you forget to water the plant or add too much water? How about if the conditions become too hot or too cold? Can you take care of the plant for 4 weeks? Take up the challenge and give it a try. This fun, educational game is perfect for kids.
Natural Resources - Video
A 10 minute video that explains the importance of trees as a natural resource. Easy for kids to understand.
Greenhouse Gas Calculator - Interactive Game
In this activity, students will choose a crop, how to treat the soil (till, fertilizer, etc.), and see how their decisions affected the crops and the surrounding environment.
Teacher Resources-Lessons/Activities
Natural Resources
The link to this BrainPOP Jr. page provides different activities students can do to discover the importance of natural resources such as identifying the different objects and materials come from trees, how to recycle, the importance of recycling, etc.
We Need Plants!
In this activity students first identify everything they have used in their day and then go back and circle everything that comes from plants. Students will then list all of the reasons that they can come up with about why we need plants, and then on a map of Virginia locate different plant products and identify their purpose.
Getting to Know the Products from Trees
In this activity will discover how trees are used in many different ways and the resources that come from trees.
Our Natural Resources
This activity has students learning about natural resources - how they are used and why they should be conserved.
The link to this BrainPOP Jr. page provides different activities students can do to discover the importance of natural resources such as identifying the different objects and materials come from trees, how to recycle, the importance of recycling, etc.
We Need Plants!
In this activity students first identify everything they have used in their day and then go back and circle everything that comes from plants. Students will then list all of the reasons that they can come up with about why we need plants, and then on a map of Virginia locate different plant products and identify their purpose.
Getting to Know the Products from Trees
In this activity will discover how trees are used in many different ways and the resources that come from trees.
Our Natural Resources
This activity has students learning about natural resources - how they are used and why they should be conserved.
Teacher Resources-Assessment
Is it Food for Plants? - Worksheet
In this worksheet students will need to identify the different resources plants need in order to survive.
Nature Recycles - Coloring Book
This is a link to 16 different coloring pages that shows students the different "recyclers of nature."
Natural Resources - Matching
This is a simple match worksheet that includes several different natural resources. The students draw a line to match the natural resource to what can be made from it.
Natural Resources - Word Sort
This is a worksheet where students will have to sort different words based on where they came from (plant, animal, or mineral).
Products from Natural Resources - Worksheet
Identify each natural resource in the table as renewable or non-renewable. Sort the listed products according to the resource used to make them.
In this worksheet students will need to identify the different resources plants need in order to survive.
Nature Recycles - Coloring Book
This is a link to 16 different coloring pages that shows students the different "recyclers of nature."
Natural Resources - Matching
This is a simple match worksheet that includes several different natural resources. The students draw a line to match the natural resource to what can be made from it.
Natural Resources - Word Sort
This is a worksheet where students will have to sort different words based on where they came from (plant, animal, or mineral).
Products from Natural Resources - Worksheet
Identify each natural resource in the table as renewable or non-renewable. Sort the listed products according to the resource used to make them.