Natural Resources & Sustainability Booklet with Indigenous Connections
Help students explore how we depend on the land—and how our decisions affect it, with this natural resources booklet for Grade 5.
Caring for Land & Resources combines short readings, drawing, written responses, and discussion with a teacher-guided local investigation. Created by a Nuučaan̓ułʔatḥ educator, it connects science learning with Indigenous stewardship and practical ways of caring for the environment.
Explore natural resources and sustainability
Students begin with familiar objects and investigate the natural materials used to make them. They learn about renewable and nonrenewable resources, why renewable resources can become scarce, and what it means to use resources sustainably.
The booklet then explores forests, watersheds, and ecosystem connections. Students consider how plants protect soil and water, how different forest features support life, and how repairing or reusing products can reduce waste.
These natural resources activities encourage students to explain their thinking and ask questions before making decisions.
Learn about Indigenous stewardship
A reading about Tla-o-qui-aht Tribal Parks introduces a specific example of First Nations leadership in caring for land, waters, and community. Students reflect on how a 500-year stewardship plan might shape decisions made today.
The booklet recognizes that First Nations have distinct knowledge systems, responsibilities, and priorities. A local investigation guides students to learn whose territory a place is within and who is already working to care for it.
What’s included?
- Printable half-page student booklet
- Short readings and natural resources worksheets
- Renewable and nonrenewable resource classification
- Ecosystem connection diagram and drawing activity
- Sustainability questions and written reflections
- Readings about water, forests, and everyday resource use
- Tla-o-qui-aht Tribal Parks example
- Environmental decision-making scenario
- Guided local-place investigation
- Class action plan and final reflection
- One-page teacher lesson plan
Connect with BC Grade 5 science
This resource supports BC Grade 5 science learning about sustainable practices around BC’s resources, First Peoples knowledge of sustainable practices, and interconnectedness in the environment.
Students practice making observations, considering environmental effects, communicating ideas, and supporting decisions with reasons.
Take learning into your community
Use these environmental stewardship activities to investigate a nearby stream, forest, wetland, beach, or park. Students identify an observed need, plan a realistic response, and decide how they will check whether their action helped.
Suitable for a natural resources study, sustainability activities, or Earth Day learning, this booklet supports conversations about caring for land throughout the year.
