Global Warming/Environmental Issues/Coal

[jsfowler]

My school is participating in a program sponsored in part by regional coal companies. I am in charge of disigning a classroom unit - last year the unit focused on how coal in involved in generating electricity. I won first place in the middle school division out of 52 entries. This year my students and I have decided to focus on coals impact on the environment and also what the coal industry is doing to lesson their footprints on the environment. I also have some students who want to look at what life was like in early coal camps.

I have been so impressed with posts on this site, I have come to you for help. If you have a lesson, video, activity, guest speaker, project idea, website, etc. about this topic, please share:) Whether it is about coal or global warming, I will accept all suggestions.

After I teach the unit, the students will be creating group projects for the regional coal fair - they can be about anything coal related and are divided into seven categories (science, SS, math, english, art, music, technology). Any ideas for a 7th/8th grade project?

[muinteoir]

Have you seen these?

http://www.teachcoal.org/lessonplans/index.html

http://www.coaleducation.org/lessons/middle.htm

http://www.mii.org/teacherhelpers.html

[Bananas]

I immediately thought of the Coal Mine Exhibit at the Museum of
Science and Industry in Chicago. They have had that for field trips when I was growing up. :)

Link to exhibit: http://www.msichicago.org/exhibit/coal_mine/index.html

Below contains some info on the link, with links to other resources. You can take an online tour. Hope this helps.

The Coal Mine will be closed from January 14 through March 7, 2008 for renovation. Thank you for your patience as we work to renew this beloved Museum experience.

Tour Areas
The Headframe (Homepage): Descend 600 feet underground.

Mining in the 1930s Machinery is introduced into the mines.

Mining Today Safety is the key in today's modern mine.


Mining Links

Illinois State Geological Survey

National Mining Association

Illinois Clean Coal Institute

Mine Safety and Health Administration

Info-Mine

United States Geological Survey

Illinois Department of Natural Resources

[jsfowler]

On Friday, students completed their KWHL charts for our coal unit. I was so impressed with their "Want to know" and "How to find out" sections that I pretty much ditched my plans and will be spending Monday and Tuesday allowing them to create lesson plans for the unit. Over the weekend, I have designed a modified lesson plan template using the KUD (know, understand, do) method. I will have all my materials laid out and I will be there to guide them but it will be up to them to disign the lessons with essential questions, activities, guest speakers, etc. I am really excited about this. We have hurried all year long to cram every thing in and now this is a time to chill and allow them to have some fun. I can't wait to share what they come up with.

[WVmtnlady]

I am a coal miners daughter and know that the coal mines in my home state of WV are the life blood of our people. It supplies 90% of the energy for the state. I justed wanted to say that it is a good thing that the students in KY are learning the importance of coal and also what it does to the environment (since KY is also a coal mining state). I thought I would add that when my grandfather mined, he lived in a coal mining town with his family. It consisted of the coal miners and their families, a local company store, and was its own little "town." The miners were paid in "script" which was a type of coin with a small square hole punched in it. I still have some of this script which my grandmother gave me. I hope that you and your students are enjoying learning about coal and the environment. I can't wait to hear more about your project!;)

[busbus]

I can't wait to hear about the students' lesson plans.

I can only imagine the active learning going on in your classroom. I love to see and hear students enjoying what they are learning.

Having your students to create their own lesson plan is a great assessment. I do like this idea. (I'm getting so many excellent ideas on this site. Thanks.)

I'm looking forward to your sharing what the students present.
:)