How to Tell Natural Resources from Human-Made Things

Natural resources are materials or substances that exist in nature and are not made by humans, while human-made things are objects created by people using natural resources or other materials. In CBSE Class 6 Science, you learn that natural resources include air, water, soil, minerals, sunlight, plants, and animals. These are found in our surroundings and are essential for life. Human-made things, such as plastic bottles, glass windows, or metal chairs, are manufactured in factories or workshops by changing the form of natural resources. For example, wood from trees (a natural resource) is used to make furniture (a human-made thing). In real life, the water you drink from a river is a natural resource, but the bottle you use to carry it is human-made. Many students think anything found outside is natural, but items like bricks or roads are human-made even though they are outdoors. Understanding this difference helps us appreciate the value of nature and how we depend on it for our daily needs.

Air is a mixture of several gases, mainly nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and small amounts of other gases like argon and water vapour. Oxygen in air is essential for the respiration of humans and animals, while plants use carbon dioxide from air for photosynthesis to make their food. Nitrogen is also important because it helps plants grow by being part of the soil nutrients. For example, when you breathe in, your body takes oxygen from the air to produce energy, and when you exhale, you release carbon dioxide. In real life, if you keep a plant in a closed jar without air, it will not survive because it cannot get the carbon dioxide it needs. Some students think air is only oxygen, but it is actually a mixture of many gases, and each plays a different role in supporting life.

Most of the water on Earth is found in the oceans, but this water is salty and not suitable for drinking or irrigation. Fresh water is found in glaciers, groundwater, rivers, and lakes, but it makes up only a small fraction of the total water on Earth. Glaciers store a large amount of fresh water in the form of ice, while groundwater fills the spaces between soil and rocks. Rivers and lakes provide fresh water that we use for drinking, bathing, farming, and other needs. For example, the water that comes from a village well or a city tap is usually groundwater or river water, which is fresh. In real life, during summer, some rivers dry up and people depend more on groundwater. Many students believe that rainwater is the main source of fresh water, but most rainwater eventually flows into the sea and becomes salty. This is why conserving fresh water is important.

Sandy, clayey, and loamy soils differ in their particle size, water-holding capacity, and rate of water percolation. Sandy soil has large particles and allows water to pass through quickly, so it does not hold much water. Clayey soil has very small particles, holds water well, but drains slowly. Loamy soil is a mixture of sand, clay, and silt, making it ideal for plant growth because it holds water and nutrients well and allows good drainage. Soil forms from rocks through a process called weathering, where rocks break down into smaller pieces over a long time due to wind, water, and temperature changes. For example, after heavy rain, you might notice that water quickly disappears from a sandy playground but stays longer in a clayey field. In real life, farmers prefer loamy soil for growing crops because it supports healthy plant roots. Some students think all soil is the same, but the type of soil affects what can be grown and how much water is needed.