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6th grade · Science · Unit 7 of 7

Resources & Hazards

Where resources are, and forecasting natural hazards.

What your child practices

Practices why Earth's mineral, energy and water resources are spread unevenly, how scientists forecast natural hazards, and ways to reduce human impact on the environment, including Minnesota's iron ore and groundwater.

Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards benchmark: 6E.3.2.1.2; 6E.2.1.1.3; 6E.3.2.1.3 · why Earth's resources are spread unevenly, forecasting natural hazards, and lessening human impact

How we explain it

Children can open this short lesson before they practice.

  1. Mineral resources are found only where past geologic processes concentrated them.
  2. Taconite pellets are made by crushing rock and pulling out the iron with magnets.
  3. Old mine pits can be reclaimed as lakes and parks.
  4. Some hazards, like a hurricane's path, can be forecast days ahead.

Example: Why is iron ore found in some places and not others? Minerals aren't spread evenly through Earth's crust. Past geologic processes gathered them in certain places. Answer: past geologic processes concentrated it there

Resources & Hazards in Minnesota

In the Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards, this is unit 7 of 7 in 6th grade Science, after Climate & Climate Change.

Gradelings describes a child's practice on this unit as Beginning, Approaching, Meeting or Exceeding (Four practice steps). That reflects practice, not a report-card mark: the teacher decides the mark.

Source: Minnesota Department of Education (MDE)

Sample questions

A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.

  1. Question 1

    Minnesota's Iron Range has rich iron ore because, long ago, iron settled out of…

    • volcanoes on the moon
    • melted glaciers last year
    • ancient seawater into rock layers
    • rivers of gold

  2. Question 2

    Green roofs and permeable pavement reduce…

    • rainfall
    • polluted runoff
    • sunlight
    • earthquakes

  3. Question 3

    Taconite pellets are made on the Iron Range by crushing rock and…

    • drying it in the sun
    • dissolving it in seawater
    • melting it with lava
    • pulling out the iron with magnets

  4. Question 4

    Which reduces habitat loss?

    • Protecting land as parks and preserves
    • Clearing forests
    • Building on every field
    • Draining wetlands

  5. Question 5

    Groundwater is stored in…

    • volcanoes
    • glaciers only
    • aquifers
    • clouds

  6. Question 6

    Mapping where floods happened before helps…

    • plan where not to build
    • make more floods
    • stop rain
    • move rivers

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