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Finite Resources & Recycling

CONCEPTUAL
ScienceMatter & Materials|Ages 12—14|ID: mt_0e5rZxbAeR

Explain that many raw materials (metals, fossil fuels, minerals) are finite resources, describe the environmental costs of extraction, and evaluate the benefits of recycling and the circular economy

Mastery Evidence

  • Identifies examples of finite natural resources and explains why they are finite
  • Describes the environmental impact of mining and fossil fuel extraction
  • Explains why recycling metals saves energy compared to extraction from ores
  • Discusses trade-offs between the cost of recycling and the benefit of resource conservation

Assessment Prompt

“If [child] was deciding whether to recycle an aluminium drinks can or throw it away, could they explain what goes into making new aluminium from scratch — and why recycling it uses much less energy?”

Curriculum Standards2 alignments

MS-ESS3-4Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) Middle Schoolcodes only
Standard code — full text not included in this dataset.
KS3.Sci.Chem.EA.5The national curriculum in England
Earth's Resources and Recycling

Earth as a source of limited resources and the efficacy of recycling

Science · KS3

Prerequisites2

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