🔬 6th Grade Science · Unit 6

Earth's Resources and Hazards

15 short narrated lessons in 3 chapters, each with pictures, a quiz with a hint and a second try, and an explanation for every answer.

Standards: MS-ESS3-1 MS-ESS3-2 MS-ETS1-1 MS-ETS1-2

6th Grade Science · 7 units
  1. 1Earth, Moon and Sun
  2. 2Gravity and the Solar System
  3. 3Earth's History
  4. 4Earth's Changing Surface
  5. 5Water, Weather and Climate
  6. 6Earth's Resources and Hazards
  7. 7People and the Planet
Picture from the lesson “Renewable and Nonrenewable Resources”
Renewable and Nonrenewable Resources
Picture from the lesson “Minerals and Ores”
Minerals and Ores
Picture from the lesson “Fossil Fuels”
Fossil Fuels

What your child will learn

Natural resources

  1. Renewable and Nonrenewable ResourcesCompare renewable and nonrenewable resources with examples.
  2. Minerals and OresExplain how geologic processes concentrate minerals in certain places.
  3. Fossil FuelsDescribe how coal, oil and natural gas formed over millions of years.
  4. Natural Resources Review ReviewReview how Earth's processes cause resources to be unevenly spread and limited.

Natural hazards

  1. What Is a Natural Hazard?Describe natural hazards and how they can affect people.
  2. Tracking Earthquakes and VolcanoesExplain how scientists monitor data to spot warning signs of eruptions and earthquakes.
  3. Hurricanes, Tornadoes and FloodsDescribe how scientists track and forecast severe weather.
  4. Maps of RiskUse data maps to identify places that face a higher risk from a hazard.
  5. Natural Hazards Review ReviewReview how data helps scientists forecast natural hazards.

Engineering for safety

  1. Defining the ProblemDefine a hazard problem clearly, including criteria and constraints for a solution.
  2. Earthquake-Safe BuildingsDescribe design features that help buildings survive earthquakes.
  3. Protecting Against FloodsEvaluate solutions such as levees and wetlands for reducing flood damage.
  4. Comparing SolutionsUse a decision matrix to compare design solutions against criteria.
  5. Engineering for Safety Review ReviewReview how engineers design and compare solutions that reduce harm from hazards.
  6. Unit 6 Test: Earth's Resources and HazardsShow what you learned in the whole unit (Natural resources, Natural hazards, Engineering for safety) by answering mixed questions.

Try a question from this unit

From the lesson “Renewable and Nonrenewable Resources”

A bar chart of example trees per year. Forest A: 40 cut and 40 regrow. Forest B: 80 cut and 20 regrow.

The chart shows example numbers for two imaginary forests. Which forest can keep supplying wood year after year?

  • Forest B, because it gives more wood each year
  • Forest A, because as many trees regrow as are cut
  • Either one, because trees are always renewable
  • Neither, because wood is a nonrenewable resource
Show the answer

Forest A, because as many trees regrow as are cut. In Forest A, as many trees regrow as are cut, so the forest can keep supplying wood. Forest B gives more wood now, but it loses trees every year and will shrink. Trees act as a renewable resource only when they are used no faster than they regrow.

Hint kids see after a wrong try: “For each forest, compare the height of the two bars.”

Key words

  • renewable
  • nonrenewable
  • mineral
  • ore
  • fossil fuel
  • natural hazard
  • seismograph
  • monitor
  • hurricane
  • tornado
  • flood
  • hazard map
  • risk
  • engineering problem
  • criteria
  • constraints
  • design
  • structure
  • levee
  • wetland
  • decision matrix
  • trade-off
← Water, Weather and Climate All 6th Grade Science units People and the Planet →

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