Google Slides 2016 (Public) – this presentation will outline what mining is, where it occurs, types of mines, what commodities are mined in the United States, and covers mining in New Jersey. Maps are from the CDC
What is mining? (pdf) – this is a guided handout that students will take notes on as we discuss mining
Sterling Hill Mining Museum – this has been an annual field trip for our school for around 30 years. Their mineral collection is amazing!
Videos: These are also available on Netflix – updated April 2018
Breaker boys working in Ewen Breaker of Pennsylvania Coal Co. Source: Library of Congress. Photo by Lewis Hine
Updated August 2016
As part our Mining and Minerals unit, we discuss the impact of obtaining natural resources and their effects on the environment. We look back at the Second Industrial Revolution and the impact it had not only on the environment, but on society as well. Children were working in mines, factories, and farms under dangerous conditions. Because they were working long hours in order to earn money for their families, they were not able to attend school. We then discuss the factors that lead to child labor, do they still exist today? Unfortunately, child labor still exists in many countries for the same reasons it did at the start of the 20th century, when Lewis Hine took these photographs.
Lewis Hine Photography – Child Labor
Purpose
To analyze primary sources (photographs) related to child labor
To learn how Lewis Hine brought awareness to the issue of child labor
To explore the factors that contributed to child labor
To write a piece of historical fiction inspired by one of Lewis Hine’s photographs
Student 1 – pictures of a solitary child (if 3 people in group, combine topic with Student 4)
Student 2 – pictures of groups of children
Student 3 – pictures of boys and men mining
Student 4 – pictures of buildings, machinery, tools, or animals at the mine
“I miss Poland and my old life there. I went to school and learned to read and write. I could even struggle through a few English words. After school, I would race down the dusty gravel road to my small yard. My father built a tree house out of scrap wood he brought back from the shop. We hung a tire swing from it. My dad would push me everyday, I miss him so much.”
Student 1 – pictures of a solitary child (if 3 people in group, combine topic with Student 4)
Student 2 – pictures of groups of children
Student 3 – pictures of adults and children working side by side
Student 4 – pictures of buildings, machinery, & farm animals
“It gets darker and darker every day, but we are holding up. Sometimes I wish that we never left Ireland. It was so much easier there. Ah,well…thinking about everything back home will only make me sad.”
Student 1 – pictures of a siblings working together
Student 2 – pictures of a child/siblings working with parent(s)
Student 3 – pictures of families at home
Student 4 – pictures of families working in a factory, farming, or using machinery
“Day 5: Family. I am the youngest of nine children. We are all one year apart. In 1918 we sailed over from Italy.”
Extension
Students will write a journal entry or personal letter (¾ to 1 page) based on one of the photographs they have chosen. They will share their stories along with the photograph they chose for their slide. Samples of writing above are from the Class of 2017.
Middle School Science Blog 