Standard #: SC.4.E.6.3


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Recognize that humans need resources found on Earth and that these are either renewable or nonrenewable.


General Information

Subject Area: Science
Grade: 4
Body of Knowledge: Earth and Space Science
Big Idea: Earth Structures - Humans continue to explore the composition and structure of the surface of Earth. External sources of energy have continuously altered the features of Earth by means of both constructive and destructive forces. All life, including human civilization, is dependent on Earth’s water and natural resources.
Date Adopted or Revised: 02/08
Date of Last Rating: 05/08
Status: State Board Approved
Assessed: Yes

Related Courses

Course Number1111 Course Title222
5020050: Science - Grade Four (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2022, 2022 and beyond (current))
7720050: Access Science Grade 4 (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2018, 2018 - 2023, 2023 and beyond (current))
5020110: STEM Lab Grade 4 (Specifically in versions: 2016 - 2022, 2022 and beyond (current))


Related Access Points

Access Point Number Access Point Title
SC.4.E.6.In.3 Recognize that some natural resources used by humans are non-renewable, such as oil.
SC.4.E.6.Su.3 Recognize that some natural resources can run out (non-renewable).
SC.4.E.6.Pa.3 Recognize the universal symbol for recycling.


Related Resources

Lesson Plans

Name Description
Protecting Florida's Resources: Water: Part 1

Students will deepen their knowledge on Florida’s renewable resource of water. They will learn about why it is an important resource to our state, consider problems the resource may face and ways they can work with state and local government to address issues involving Florida’s waters. 

Ocean Heroes

Students will learn ways to help keep the ocean clean by recycling and write letters to lobby government officials to support recycling programs. They will decide which materials are most important to recycle by looking at several characteristics of the materials including whether they are renewable or nonrenewable, if the material will decompose, and the amount of the materials currently being recycled in this MEA.

Model Eliciting Activities, MEAs, are open-ended, interdisciplinary problem-solving activities that are meant to reveal students’ thinking about the concepts embedded in realistic situations.  Click here to learn more about MEAs and how they can transform your classroom.

Going Green - Renewable and Non-Renewable Florida Resources

Students will use their knowledge of renewable and non-renewable resources to create a green community in Florida. The students will be given a map of a plot of land in Florida on which to develop a green community. They will need to use renewable resources while protecting the non-renewable resources on the plot of land.

Resources Bulletin Board Challenge

In this lesson, students will work to research and compare renewable and non-renewable resources. Students will then design and/or create bulletin boards to share their findings and teach others.

It's in the Bag!

This is a 4th grade MEA. This MEA will ask students to work in teams to help Greens R Us, a fruit and vegetables business, decide which type of shopping bag to give their customers. Students will consider factors such as renewable and nonrenewable resources, environmental impact, and sustainability. This MEA allows students to use high-level problem solving skills in a real-world application involving Earth's natural resources.

Model Eliciting Activities, MEAs, are open-ended, interdisciplinary problem-solving activities that are meant to reveal students’ thinking about the concepts embedded in realistic situations. Click here to learn more about MEAs and how they can transform your classroom.

An Energetic Place to Live

Sunny Land Developing is about to develop a new community in Florida. Students are needed to make suggestions for the company's choice of energy to integrate into the new homes. In this activity, students will review how people use electricity in their daily lives and learn about the differences between renewable and nonrenewable energy resources. Students will also be introduced to sound energy and how it is measured.

Model Eliciting Activities, MEAs, are open-ended, interdisciplinary problem-solving activities that are meant to reveal students’ thinking about the concepts embedded in realistic situations. Click here to learn more about MEAs and how they can transform your classroom.

Florida's Natural Resources Quandry

This Model Eliciting Activity (MEA) is written at a 4th grade level. In this open-ended problem, students are presented with a variety of natural resources found in Florida, a description of the resources, and the advantages/disadvantages of each. Students must consider which resources are both environmentally friendly and beneficial to our society. Students will describe their procedures for reasoning, and defend their decisions by providing proper validation.

Model Eliciting Activities, MEAs, are open-ended, interdisciplinary problem-solving activities that are meant to reveal students’ thinking about the concepts embedded in realistic situations. Click here to learn more about MEAs and how they can transform your classroom.

Fertilizers in Florida

Growing Green, Inc. is planning to expand their business into Florida. The client has specific criteria for selecting a good location to set up their new fertilizer manufacturing plant. This project will familiarize students with some of Florida's natural resources (with a great emphasis on phosphate) and will present students with opportunities to interpret different types of maps.

Model Eliciting Activities, MEAs, are open-ended, interdisciplinary problem-solving activities that are meant to reveal students’ thinking about the concepts embedded in realistic situations. Click here to learn more about MEAs and how they can transform your classroom.

Greener School Cafeteria

In this MEA students help their cafeteria manager make greener choices in selecting utensils.

Model Eliciting Activities, MEAs, are open-ended, interdisciplinary problem-solving activities that are meant to reveal students’ thinking about the concepts embedded in realistic situations. Click here to learn more about MEAs and how they can transform your classroom.

Wind at Work: Wind as a Renewable Resource

This is an Engineering Design Project that follows the CIS: Wind at Work Lesson. This is lesson two of two in the Unit and builds upon the understanding of wind as a natural resource. It is applying content knowledge and is not intended as an initial introduction to the benchmarks.

Town of Newberry: Alternative Energies MEA

This Model Eliciting Activity (MEA) is written at a 5th grade level. In this open-ended problem, students are presented with a variety of energy resources, a description of the source, and the advantages/disadvantages of each. Students must consider which resource energy is the best to implement, describe their procedures for reasoning, and defend their decisions by providing proper validation.

Model Eliciting Activities, MEAs, are open-ended, interdisciplinary problem-solving activities that are meant to reveal students’ thinking about the concepts embedded in realistic situations. MEAs resemble engineering problems and encourage students to create solutions in the form of mathematical and scientific models. Students work in teams to apply their knowledge of science and mathematics to solve an open-ended problem, while considering constraints and tradeoffs. Students integrate their ELA skills into MEAs as they are asked to clearly document their thought process. MEAs follow a problem-based, student centered approach to learning, where students are encouraged to grapple with the problem while the teacher acts as a facilitator. To learn more about MEA’s visit: https://www.cpalms.org/cpalms/mea.aspx

Power Up! This lesson is designed to compare and contrast renewable energy sources, such as the sun, wind, and geothermal, as well as nonrenewable energy sources, such as fossil fuels.
Recycling and Composting This lesson shows students how important renewable resources are for our society & the world of living things. Trees, fresh water, and clean air support the majority of life on Earth; because of this, we must protect these and other critical natural resources from exploitation and pollution. One approach to this is conservation, the practice of ensuring that our natural resources will always be available to future generations. Class discussion and activities will help broaden students' understanding about some important conservation activities: recycling and composting.
Find WHAT in Florida?

This lesson addresses the topic of resources found in Florida. As 4th grade students learn about Florida, they should also be able to identify natural resources that are found and used within the state. Students have the opportunity to access and use their prior knowledge as they discover what a natural resource is and what resources can be found in Florida. Students will explore some of these resources in a hands on activity. Additional components include a non-fiction article and cooperative learning

Recycle This!

Students will learn about recycling renewable and nonrenewable resources while completing a model eliciting activity in which they help Sunshine School District to decide which material to start their recycling program with.

Model Eliciting Activities, MEAs, are open-ended, interdisciplinary problem-solving activities that are meant to reveal students’ thinking about the concepts embedded in realistic situations. Click here to learn more about MEAs and how they can transform your classroom.

What's your Resource: Renewable or Nonrenewable?

Students will learn about renewable and nonrenewable resources and share their ideas by writing an expository paragraph.

Original Student Tutorial

Name Description
Natural Resources

Explore different types of natural resources and analyze the aspects of non-renewable and renewable resources in this interactive tutorial. You'll be challenged to question what we do with our resources and why it is so important to consider what we do with them after we have used them.

Teaching Idea

Name Description
Really Recycled-SeaWorld Classroom Activity In this activity, students will be able to recycle newspaper into their own conservation message. Students will also be given the opportunity to write about their experience with recycling or persuade the reader why it is important to recycle based on what they learned in the activity.

Text Resource

Name Description
Tower Of Power

The article describes a new kind of solar energy which concentrates light waves from the sun.

Student Resources

Original Student Tutorial

Name Description
Natural Resources:

Explore different types of natural resources and analyze the aspects of non-renewable and renewable resources in this interactive tutorial. You'll be challenged to question what we do with our resources and why it is so important to consider what we do with them after we have used them.



Parent Resources

Teaching Idea

Name Description
Really Recycled-SeaWorld Classroom Activity: In this activity, students will be able to recycle newspaper into their own conservation message. Students will also be given the opportunity to write about their experience with recycling or persuade the reader why it is important to recycle based on what they learned in the activity.


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