Powering Texas

Powering Texas Worksheet: Renewable and nonrenewable resources (Grade 4 Science)

Students sort four real Texas energy sources (a West Texas wind farm, a solar farm, an oil well, and a coal mine) as renewable or nonrenewable, then decide whether each fact about these resources is an advantage or a disadvantage. The page teaches the idea first, so no prior lesson is needed, and every answer is on the page.

What's Inside

• A teach box on renewable and nonrenewable resources, advantages, and disadvantages
• Part A: four Texas energy pictures; circle renewable or nonrenewable
• Part B: four facts; circle advantage or disadvantage
• A raccoon guide with a hint that matches the answer key
• An answer key with answers marked in red, plus a short teacher note with what to watch for

How Teachers Use It

Read the teach box and the worked example together, then let students try Part A and Part B. It takes 8 to 10 minutes and prints clearly in black and white. The focus skill is identifying advantages and disadvantages of renewable and nonrenewable resources. Standards: TEKS 4.11A: identify and explain advantages and disadvantages of using Earth’s renewable and nonrenewable natural resources such as wind, water, sunlight, plants, animals, coal, oil, and natural gas.

Why It Works

Real Texas wind farms, solar farms, and oil wells connect the lesson to the state. Questions are short, mostly circle answers, and the reasoning is on the teacher key.