Oklahoma Academic Standards: 
2. The student will examine Oklahoma’s geography and how people of Oklahoma interact with their environment.

4. The student will identify and describe basic economic activities creating prosperity in the state of Oklahoma.

Objective 2.2.3 Identify the characteristics of renewable and non-renewable resources and evaluate the role of citizens in conserving natural resources.

Objective 3.4.1 Compare differences among human, natural, and capital resources used to produce goods and services.

In a Nutshell

In order for students to comprehend their role as stewards of the environment, they must first understand the differences between renewable and nonrenewable resources. Such a distinction can help students grasp the concept of conservation, including practical ways citizens can personally reduce the use of nonrenewable resources. Students should understand the differences between three factors present in economic activities: human resources- the actual people involved in the labor component; natural resources- the renewable and nonrenewable raw materials that are used in the production of a good or service, and capital goods- the machinery, buildings, and equipment vital to the production of goods or services.

Teacher Action 

Student Action 

• Provide frequent opportunities for students to describe how humans modify and adapt to their physical environment, using its natural renewable and  nonrenewable resources.

• Assist students to identify a range of local and state problems related to the management of natural resources and how people are trying to address these problems. 

• Give examples of costs and benefits resulting from personal economic decisions related to the use and conservation of natural resources. 

• Explain how people can work together to make decisions in their community and state in order to conserve and preserve nonrenewable natural resources. 

Key Concepts 

Misconceptions 

• natural resource, nonrenewable versus renewable resource, human resources, capital resources

• goods, services, production, consumption

• conservation, preservation, management, personal choices, economic choices

• Some students may assume that there is unlimited supply of renewable natural resources without comprehending that wise management of even renewable resources is required for future sustainability of the environment. 

• Most students will not little, if any, prior knowledge to the concepts of human and capital resources and will require frequent reinforcement for full understanding of the role such resources play in any economic system. 

Instructional Resources