Resource 1: Renewable and non-renewable resources
Background information / subject knowledge for teacher
Renewable resources | Non-renewable resources |
---|---|
Wood from planted trees – gum and pine | Wood from cutting down wild forest trees |
Planted crops | Wild medicine herbs if too much is taken |
Meat from farm animals | Threatened wild animals |
Water (if we don’t pollute it) | Soil that has eroded won’t come back |
Air | |
ENERGY RESOURCES | |
Water power (hydroelectricity) | Coal |
Wind power | Oil |
From the sun – solar energy | Petrol and diesel – from oil |
Paraffin from oil |
Note: You might see how the teacher has started by accepting most of the suggested items the pupils present and has tried where possible to use their own words. This gives them confidence to add more. If the teacher rephrases everything they suggest into textbook-type language many children get discouraged – accepting and working with their actual words is very important.
You might also have noticed how the teacher has steered the attention to energy aspects – by adding in a sub-heading. Depending on where they live, pupils might also know of natural gas, which is considered a non-renewable resource.
Rwanda's resources
Wood is a major energy resource in Rwanda. Pupils might like to think about how it can be renewable or non-renewable.
Hydroelectricity is also very important in Rwanda but Rwanda is still experiencing severe power shortages. Due in part to the regional droughts and to global warming, the water levels of LakeRuhondo (Ntaruka) and RusiziRiver have been decreasing steadily over the last decade. The river flow and water levels are so low today that the dams are generating power at one-third of capacity. The Ministry of Infrastructures is trying to use methane gas as a clean and renewable resource.
3. Group work with a focus on recycling