Question bank: Extractive Activities

Think of a plant that we like to have at home, like mint, for example. In order for it to grow beautifully, we need to take it out of the pot from time to time to add more soil and nutrients, right? Now, imagine that in various parts of the world, people do similar things, but instead of mint, they extract things from the land or rivers, such as sand, minerals, and fish, to use or sell. These 'things' that people take from nature are called natural resources, and the way they do this is what we call extractive activities. What happens is that sometimes, extracting in excess or in the wrong way can harm the place where these things come from, like leaving the soil without nutrients for the plant. Now, I'll tell you a secret, the same thing can happen to Earth. With that in mind, choose a natural resource that we can extract from nature and describe how the extractive activity of this resource is carried out, how it can help people, and what possible impacts it may have on the environment.

Have you heard that in some places, people take things from nature to use in different ways? For example, some people extract minerals from the earth, others plant agricultural products, and still others use river water to generate energy. These actions can change the way nature is, and this can be good or bad. Think of a place you know, like grandpa's farm or the city where you live, and write about an extractive activity that happens in that place. Describe what is taken from nature, what it is used for, and how this can affect the surrounding environment.

Extractive activities are economic practices that involve the removal of natural resources from the environment, such as mining and collecting products from nature. Lucas is learning about plant extraction and wants to understand how this activity can impact the forest. He observes that when many trees are cut down, the habitats of various animals are destroyed, and the environmental balance is harmed. Considering the context of the text, how can plant extraction impact the biodiversity and the environment where animals live in the forest?

Have you ever seen people taking things from nature, such as plants, animals, or rocks? This is an extractive activity! We have the extraction of minerals, like gold; agriculture, where we take food from plants and take care of animals; and industry, which transforms these things into products we use. But sometimes, when we take too much from a place, we can harm nature, like cutting down many trees or polluting rivers. Think of one of these activities of taking things from nature and write about how this activity is done, what is taken, and if this can harm the environment.

Imagine you are an explorer and you are visiting a very large forest. In this forest, there are many trees and plants that can be used to make medicines, furniture, and other products. People who work by taking things from nature, such as wood or fruits, are called 'extractivists'. However, when many trees are cut down without care or many animals are hunted, this can harm the forest itself and the living beings that inhabit it. Thinking about what you have learned about extractivist activities and their impacts on the environment, write about what an explorer should do to take things from the forest without harming the place where they live. Remember to explain how this can help nature and the importance of taking care of plants and animals.