​Natural Resources

​Each region in the United States has materials known as natural resources.

​

​A natural resource is something in the environment that people can use.

​Raw Materials

​Raw materials are natural resources that have been changed or processed so that people can use them to make other things.

Animal skin is a raw material and is processed into leather to make shoes, handbags and belts.

​

Animal wool is used to make clothes, such as jerseys and scarves

​

Sand is a natural, raw material. Sand is heated to extremely high temperatures and melted to make glass

​Clay is moulded and burned to make ceramics, such as teacups, teapots and vases.

​

Coal and oil are used to make plastics, paints and fabrics.

​

Wood and plant fibres are used to make paper.

​Industry & Manufacturing

​An industry is a form of business.

​

Manufacturing means making products to sell. Products are things that people make or grow.

​Capital Resources

Capital Resources are things that people make in order to produce products.

​

​Tools, machines, and factory buildings are examples of a capital resource.