Resources

GEOGRAPHY

Unit 1

RESOURCES

Learning Objectives

* To introduce the meaning of resources

* To familiarize with the different types of resources

* To understand the need for conservation of resources

* To understand the meaning of economic activities.

Pathway

This lesson focuses on the meaning, classification of resources and conservation of resources for sustainable living. It also provides an insight to the various economic activities and in particular it deals with the inter relation between the nature and human activities.

கேடறியாக் கெட்ட இடத்தும் வளங்குன்றா

நாடென்ப நாட்டின் தலை - குறள் 736

எந்த வகையிலும் கெடுதலை அறியாமல், ஒருவேளை கெடுதல் ஏற்படினும் அதனை சீர்செய்யுமளவிற்கு வளங்குன்றா நிலையில் உள்ள நாடுதான் நாடுகளிலே தலை சிறந்தாகும்.

Kuzhali was lying in her bed to see if her father would enter her room. She wanted her report card to be signed. There was no symptom of coming of her father. She jumped out of her bed and ran to her mother in the kitchen.

Kuzhali: Amma where is Appa?

Amma:  Today he has ‘overtime’ and he has left early.

Kuzhali: ”Overtime” what is that?

Amma: Your father’s boss wants him to manufacture a few more solar panels because they have some urgent orders.

Kuzhali: He should have told me last night. My progress report has to be signed.

Amma: Enough of that. Now go have your bath. I’ll sign your report this time.

Kuzhali: Amma, thank you ma. One more question. What does he make the solar panels from?

Amma: Let me explain for you to understand. Silicon, extracted from sand, a natural resource, is used in making PV cells. These convert solar energy into electrical energy.

Kuzhali: Natural resource, what do you mean by it?

Amma: All things useful to man is resource. And if it is directly from nature we call it natural resource.

Kuzhali: Then what kind of work is Appa doing?

Amma: He is a manufacturer. He uses natural resources for manufacturing.

Kuzhali: Then, manufactured things be called as resources?

Amma: Yes, they are called as man made resources.

Kuzhali: Ok amma. It’s getting late. Let me get ready.

Activity: 1

Circle the resources that are not necessary for gardening. Soil, Seeds, A piece of Land,  Computers, Saplings, Flower Pots, Manure, Textbooks.

Resource is anything that fulfills human needs. When anything is of some use it becomes valuable. All resources have value. The value can be either non-commercial commercial or Commercial resources have great economic value. (e.g.) Petroleum. The Non-commercial resources are very abundant in availability ( e.g.) Air.

Resources can be natural, man-made and human resources.

HOTS:

Do all the items in your shopping list have commercial value?

Anything becomes a resource only when its use is discovered. The needs of human beings are ever changing. According to the ever changing needs, resources keep changing. Time and Technology are two important factors that determine whether a substance is a resource or not. for example: Sun’s energy to generate electricity was made possible after the invention of solar panels (technology); and the receding of coal and petrol was in need of an inexhaustible resource (time).

HOTS:

Is the tilt of the solar panels same everywhere on Earth?