To understand the impact coal mining has on the environment, pupils will extract chocolate chips from a cookie. Imagine the cookie is the environment and the chips are the coal. Instruct them to mine as many chips as they can, then have...

Students explore natural resources by conducting a geology experiment in class. In this mineral mining lesson, students discuss the types of geological material that can be found when mining and the uses for these resources such as coal....

Eighth graders put their knowledge of rocks and minerals into perspective by seeing how minerals can be mined and the difficulties and costs of mining. They explore the environmental impacts of mining.

Learners observe the effects of mining on a mountain.  In this environmental awareness instructional activity, students will be challenged to extract items from a model of a mountain without disturbing the vegetation on the...

Students explore the life and times of a coal miner in Illinois through the analysis of primary source documents and images.

Learners read a book called It's Mine! In this instructional activity about three frogs and sharing, students explore how what they do affects everything around them. Through a series of seven different activities, learners interpret the...

Students simulate mining mineral resources using cookies. In this earth science instructional activity, students analyze the cost and profits in mining. They write a lab report about the activity.

Students discover that mining for nonrenewable natural resources has a dramatic effect on our environment. They gain an understanding of the processes involved in harvesting a natural resource and the impact it has on the earth.

Students are introduced to the early peoples living in the Jewett Mine area. After viewing transparencies, they view pictures of the mine today and its main area of production. For each picture, they develop symbols and captions about...

Students recognize the importance of reclaiming the land after mining. They observe the experiment demonstrating the process of erosion and record their results of the effects of rain upon the land.

Ninth graders research early mining in California. They study the "placer method" for mining gold, which is surface mining that does not involve tunneling. They examine what it was like for the early miners to pan for gold with...

Learners i examine 10 pieces of evidence for the Pangaea theory and use them to reconstruct the super continent. They determine that land masses on Earth are slowly changing shape as a result of moving for millions of years.

Introduce middle school mineralologists to halite. The opening of the lesson plan involves a video and worksheet to which there are no links. However, you can replace the video with any informational clip that you can find online about...

Students build mine-earthworm habitats to discover their niche in them. They make predictions about what the niche looks like in a week and draw a picture of it. Students notice the tunnels in the soil and how the sand and dirt are now...

Students explore the world of robotics. In this robotics lesson, students discover what a robot is and work with partners to find out how hard it is to accurately guide robots through simple tasks.

Young scholars explore the world of robotics. In this robotics lesson, students study the history of robots and work with partners to find out how hard it is to accurately guide robots through simple tasks.

Learners select one of the ideas for a science project reflecting their knowledge about coal. They then choose a catchy title to spark interest that describes their project. They use the scientific method to explain the process.

Students investigate how robots are used in space. In this space science instructional activity, students participate in an experiment using a blindfold and complete assigned tasks. The students demonstrate how robots are "thinking"...

Students investigate the "futures" market and how it affects farmers by completing a prediction activity utilizing bags of M&Ms. While completing this activity, students practice basic mathematics skills and reinforce economic terms.

Students use electricity and plant a seed to observe the process when coal is the major fuel source to produce electricity. They use the packet of native seeds to experiment with revegetation.

Students explore U.S. history by researching a historic map. In this westward expansion lesson, students discuss the mystery of the western U.S. in the early 1800's and the impact expansion had on Native Americans and agriculture....

Students determine what an anemometer is and how it measures wind speed. They decide on a place to put a wind turbine by using an anemometer. They examine the role that engineers play when using wind speed to determine a place for wind...

Students define and read an article on polar energy.  In this polar energy lesson, students answer questions about the article.  Students participate in activities related to isotopes, half-life and radiocarbon.  Students...

Students explain the sources of coal.