Unit 4: Primary Resource Activity
Jan 03, 2016
What is a Resource?
Resource: Available assets, or sources of wealth, that benefit and fulfill the needs of a community. They are the things we use to meet our
wants and needs
The Three Types of Resources To help discuss resources we can break
them down into three categories. Natural Resources: Resources that are
supplied by nature. ( Oil, Lumber, Farms) Capital Resources: Resource used in the
production of goods and/or services. (money or production equipment)
Human Resources: The people who staff and run the organizations that produce goods and services.
What Determines a Natural Resource
Not everything in our environment is considered a resource.
A natural material must meet three criteria to be considered a natural resource.1. Need or Want: A culture or society must have a
need or want that requires use of the material.2. Technological Development: A culture or
society must have the technology to extract and develop the material.
3. Profitability: A culture or society must be able to develop and use the material profitably.
Different Cultures and Resources
Natural materials may not be seen as a resource in all cultures.
Developed and developing countries often have different uses for resources
The conditions that determine a resource (needs/wants, tech, profitability) vary among cultures.
Not only does the use of a resource vary among cultures it can often vary through time.
Oil Consumption
This is a world map showing the global consumption of oil in 2007. It is measuredin barrels of oil per person each day. The darker the colour the more oil that was consumed. What countries consumed the most? Do you think this has changed in the last 7 years?
U.S.A.2011
China2011 Japan
2011
Canada is ranked #10as of 2011