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Sustainability Lesson Clearinghouse
This Mine of Mine
Lesson Description:
This activity allows students to explore the formation, geology, recovery, and uses of coal, as well as the reclamation of coal mine sites. using sand, clay, soil, and rocks, students build a miniature plot of land containing coal deposits.
students then learn about the surface mining method of recovering coal from the earth, and practice the method on their plot of land. after the coal is mined, students reclaim the plot of land and discuss how the coal is transported and used.
This activity allows students to explore the formation, geology, recovery, and uses of coal, as well as the reclamation of coal mine sites. using sand, clay, soil, and rocks, students build a miniature plot of land containing coal deposits.
students then learn about the surface mining method of recovering coal from the earth, and practice the method on their plot of land. after the coal is mined, students reclaim the plot of land and discuss how the coal is transported and used.
Lesson Type:
- Project
Sustainability Topic:
- Energy
Time Needed:
3 class periods
3 class periods
Standards Addressed:
Primary(Grades K–4) Standard–D: Earth and Space Science
Primary–F: Science in Personal and Social Perspectives
Intermediate (Grades 5–8) Standard–B: Physical Science
Intermediate–D: Earth and Space Science
Intermediate–E: Science and Technology
Intermediate–F: Science in Personal and Social Perspectives
Primary(Grades K–4) Standard–D: Earth and Space Science
- Properties of Earth Materials
Primary–F: Science in Personal and Social Perspectives
- Types of resources
- Changes in environments
- Science and technology in local challenges
Intermediate (Grades 5–8) Standard–B: Physical Science
- Transfer of energy
- Energy is a property of many substances and is associated with heat, light, electricity, mechanical motion, sound,
- nuclei, and the nature of a chemical.
Intermediate–D: Earth and Space Science
- Structure of the earth system
Intermediate–E: Science and Technology
- Understandings about science and technology
Intermediate–F: Science in Personal and Social Perspectives
- Personal health
- Populations, resources, and environments
- Natural hazards
- Risks and benefits
Materials Needed:
Supplemental:
- 36 small plastic bowls
- 36 clear straws
- 36 plastic spoons
- 24 large plastic bowls
- 5 lb. bag of sand
- 5 lb. bag of small gray pebbles
- 5 lb. bag of small white pebbles
- 5 lb. bag of topsoil
- 5 lbs. of clay
- 50-100 small pieces of coal, or large black pebbles representing coal
- 1 small container of grass seed
- Newspaper to cover work areas
- Grass, leaves, and twigs,
- A container to represent a dump trunk or coal car
- Class set of NEED Elementary Energy Infobooks
Supplemental:
- Coal poster and coal samples from the American Coal Foundation (202-466-8630)
- NEED's U.S. Energy Geography - Coal Reserve map at www.NEED.org
- NEED's Primary Energy Stories and More
Submitted By:
The Green Education Foundation (GEF) on Behalf of the National Energy Education Development Project
The Green Education Foundation (GEF) on Behalf of the National Energy Education Development Project
School or Group:
National Energy Education Development Project
National Energy Education Development Project
Contact Email:
service@greeneducationfoundation.org
service@greeneducationfoundation.org
Located in: Science
