Discovering the Effect Mining has on Land

Summary

In this natural resources lesson, students will investigate how land is used for mining. Students will mine for "minerals" and observe damage to the surrounding land. Students will then have the opportunity to reclaim the land by filling in the holes and they will observe how the land has changed. The students can also make predictions of what the newly reclaimed land will look like in the future.

Learning Goals

Learning Goals:
1) This activity is designed for students to improve higher-order thinking skills by analyzing their models and making predictions about human actions and the natural environment.
2) Students will discover how mining changes the land.
3) Students will demonstrate land reclamation.
4) Students will discover why the reclaimed land is not as good as the original untouched land.

Context for Use

This investigation is typically done with 6th graders working in pairs or alone. The directions, investigation, and concluding discussion can be done in a 45 minute class period. The only equipment necessary is toothpicks, chocolate chip cookies, and the provided student worksheet. 

The students should be aware of the difference between conservation and preservation. 

This activity can easily be done in any classroom.

Description and Teaching Materials

Materials:
Each student needs:
1 chocolate chip cookie
1 student lab sheet
2 toothpicks, rounded end

Procedure:

1) The student should complete the front of the student worksheet to become aware of which minerals mined from the ground are a part of their daily lives.

2) Discuss land and soil conservation with students. Discuss ways land can be used for human gains such as agriculture, mining, and development. Discuss layers of soil and their characteristics.

2) Instruct students to obtain supplies (from list above). Explain that we will look at the effects mining has on land. This is a good time to explain that this experiment involves food. Remind students to wipe the tables, wash hands, and do not eat any of the food until the entire lab is done.

3) Instruct students to remove as many chocolate chips as they can, using only the toothpicks. The goal is to remove as many whole chips as possible. Remind them to keep all pieces of the cookie on the mining area grid.

4) Give students an opportunity to look at each others' mined cookies.

5) Explain land reclamation, and have students try to put their cookie back together. Have students draw a picture and describe the cookie after it is reclaimed. Have students glance at their classmates' reclaimed cookies. Have students record 2 sentences about the environmental implications of mining.

8) Instruct students to clean up and they have permission to eat the cookie.

9) Discuss as a class what the reclaimed cookies were like. Imagine if the cookie represented soil. What would happen to the soil? (erosion, wind and water) How can that be prevented? (planting trees and grasses, roots anchor the soil) Is land reclamation always possible? Why or Why not?

Teaching Notes and Tips

It may be helpful to pass out cookies with a plastic glove, rather than having the students pick them up. It's always a good idea to check for student food allergies. Chips Ahoy or other crisp chocolate chip cookies work best. The softer cookies don't always sustain enough damage to see results easily. 

Assessment

Mining For Chocolate Student worksheet, Statements about the environmental implications of mining.

References and Resources

Remixed from the original source

https://serc.carleton.edu/sp/mnstep/activities/20161.html

Additional resources, lesson, and student worksheet obtained from Population Connection

https://populationeducation.org/resource/mining-for-chocolate/

Population Education, a program of Population Connection, is the only national program with a strong emphasis on curriculum resources and professional development for K-12 educators that focuses on human population issues.

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