Coal Mining mini-project
January 16th, 2013
Team 1
Before you travel into the deep mine of the Internet, research how coal was first formed
millions of years ago. Learn about the different types of coal and where coal is located in the
United States.
Next, go on a virtual tour of a mine by visiting some of the websites below. What does a mine
look like inside? How deep do mines go? How are they ventilated? How do miners extract coal?
How is the coal brought to the surface and what happens to the coal when it is extracted?
Finally, learn what types of equipment miners use and depend on. Why is mining so dangerous?
Who oversees the mine industry? What happens when there are life-threatening problems in a
mine? How many miners die each year due to safety issues?
Coal Mining Links
Learn how coal was formed at the U.S. Department of Energy.
http://fossil.energy.gov/education/energylessons/coal/gen_howformed.html
Visit the Energy Kid's Page.
http://www.eia.doe.gov/kids/energyfacts/sources/non-renewable/coal.html
Go on a virtual tour of a coal mine at the Museum of Science and Industry in
Chicago. Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago
Learn what coal miners do at the United Mine Workers of America website.
http://www.umwa.org/mining/colminrs.shtml
A Portrait of Mining In America.
http://library.thinkquest.org/J003298F/
Watch video clips of the actual mining process through the Kentucky Coal
Education website.
http://www.coaleducation.org/technology/default.htm
Team 2
Research the history of coal mining in the United States. When were the first coal mines
opened? Why was there a need for coal? What were early mining conditions like?
Examine the social aspects of coal mining in the early years. How did coal mining families live?
What are coal camps? What are some of the struggles that families faced? Examine the websites
below for some of your research. If possible, interview a retired coal miner or an elderly family
member who grew up in a coal camp community. Ask them to retell their experiences working
in a mine, where they lived, how they bought and paid for needed goods. Ask them how they
felt about the profession, and how has coal mining changed throughout the years.
As part of your presentation, you may want to also include an audio selection of songs related to
the coal mining history. These can be traditional folk songs or hits of today.
History of Coal Mining
Watch video of the development of a coal camp town on the Kentucky Coal Education website.
http://www.coaleducation.org/technology/default.htm
Memories of Life in a Coal Camp.
http://www.southernscribe.com/p_tales/coal_camp.htm
More coal history information can be found here.
http://www.coaleducation.org/coalhistory/
View songs written about coal mining.
http://www.english.vt.edu/~appalach/stupages/songs.htm
Learn about the historic West Virginia Mine Wars.
http://www.wvculture.org/hiStory/minewars.html
Another coal history information site about the life and work of coal miners.
http://history.osu.edu/projects/gilded_age/
Team 3
Coal is not only used as an energy source, it is used to create many more products that you may
not be familiar with. Research the ways coal is used and bring some of those examples to class
for your presentation. How much electricity can a ton of coal produce? How does coal drive our
economy?
Locally and nationally? For your spreadsheet, think about and research ways coal has influenced
our economy locally. Positively, through job creation, taxes, creation of more mining-related
jobs and businesses and negatively on job losses, education levels, and too much economic
dependency on the industry.
Internet Links
The Kentucky Coal Education website is a great source to learn what products are made from
coal and points to other links for more information on fossil fuel products.
http://www.coaleducation.org/q&a/default.htm
Coal can do that? Learn more about the uses of coal at this website.
http://www.coalcandothat.com/
An article on the economic impact of coal based electricity by the Coalition for Affordable and
Reliable Energy.
http://www.careenergy.com/news/articleview.asp?iArticle=43
Learn how coal is converted to energy with this coal calculator provided by the Energy
Information Association.
http://www.eia.doe.gov/kids/energyfacts/science/energy_calculator.html#coalcalc
Other Resources
Contact the department of natural resources or financial to and find out how much tax revenue
is generated in our province from the sale and production of coal.
Contact the provincial economic development office to find out how many jobs are coal-related
in your locality.
Team 4
Although coal is one of the top producers of energy in the United States, it is also know to be a
major pollutant to our environment. Explore ways that coal impacts our environment though
the types of mining and through coal processing and utilization.
Also research the health effects of mining on the miners themselves. What types of health
problems are associated with coal mining?
Finally, research how coal is being used as a "clean" technology. What are some of the steps
that have been taken to make coal mining safer for our environment and for our miners.
Internet Links
The World Coal Institute provides a listing of the environmental impacts of coal mining.
http://www.worldcoal.org/pages/content/index.asp?PageID=126
The Kentucky Coal Education website provides information on the way coal impacts our
environment and on clean coal technologies.
http://www.coaleducation.org/Ky_Coal_Facts/default.htm
The Environmental Literacy Organization provides information on coal's impact on our
environment, and other fossil fuel environmental issues at its site.
http://www.enviroliteracy.org/article.php/18.html
This site by the Appalachian Institute displays wonderful graphic images of coal miner health
issues, as well as articles on various health-related topics in the coal fields.
http://www3.cet.edu/appalachianinstitute/
Major issues in Miner Health are related in this article by the Environmental Health Perspective.
http://www.ehponline.org/docs/1998/106-11/focus.html
Evaluation & Possible formats:
Power Point Journal
Poor - Project not complete, research is minimal, lack of graphic material and explanations
Satisfactory - Project is research based, but does not contain adequate materials or graphics
Good - Project has adequate information, graphics and organization
Excellent - Project exceeds standards for research, graphics, organization and materials
Oral History Project
Poor - Project not complete, research is minimal, poor communication of interview material
Satisfactory - Project is research based but oral presentation is not effective
Good - Project has adequate information and there is effective communication of material
Excellent - Project exceeds expectations for oral communication of personal interview and
includes innovative ways of delivering presentation material
Flash Presentation
Poor - Project not complete, research is minimal, presentation material is minimal
Satisfactory - Project is research based, but does not contain adequate materials or examples
Good - Project has adequate information, well organized and effective presentation of materials
Excellent - Project exceeds expectations, spreadsheet is well organized and research based,
presentation of materials is creative and thought-provoking
Essay
Poor - Project not complete, research is minimal, poor grammar and language usage
Satisfactory - Project is research based, but does not contain adequate materials, grammar is
adequate, but contains errors
Good - Project has adequate information, is well organized and grammar is adequate
Excellent - Project exceeds expectations, spreadsheet is well organized and research based,
presentation of materials is creative and thought-provoking
Teacher Web. N.p., 1 Jan. 2009. Web. 8 Dec. 2011.
Instructions for groups:
Maximum group size of 2 people per group
Both individuals must share the work on the project
When saving:
First name_Last name_First name_Last name.doc/ppt/fla/etc…
Upload onto moodle.