Mining and Me – bESTology Week 1

Image: mineshaftmagazine.com

Mining and Me – Week 1

STOP! Look around. In 60 seconds name all of the items you see that are a result of mining. GO!

If it is not grown then it is mined is a powerful statement. If it isn’t made of wood, cloth, or other living matter, it was dug out of the ground. Dig deeper into the items that surround you; window glass, eating utensils, dishes, automobiles, jewelry, and cell phones all are constructed from mined materials, i.e. sand, aluminum, steel, copper, gold, lithium and more.

Our 2015 bESTology journey will carry us deep into the exploration of mines and mined materials and how they impact on our daily lives. Jump aboard as we enter the mining world of Pay Dirt 2015!

Note: Each week of bESTology contains hints of the upcoming game Pay Dirt. Happy searching!

Resources:

• Mining – Media Planet
• Dig Into Mining – Metals in your everyday life
• Dig Into Mining – Virtual field trip
• Metal, Alloys and Metal Compounds – Science Learning
• National Mining Association
• 2014 BEST Returnable Kit
• 2014 BEST Consumable Kit

Data Mining (aka Brainstorming)
Reflect over the past 24 hours and create a list of mined materials you have encountered. Subdivide your list into decorative and non-essential materials versus essential materials. Remember to include kitchen items such as salt and health/wellness items such as vitamins.

As we Data Mine, generate a chart and list words associated with mines. Be sure to add new words to your list each week.

Writing
Imagine a world without the technology and knowledge to mine. Living items and materials found on the surface of the earth would sustain our daily lives. Write a short story explaining a typical day for you with no mined materials. Be sure to include where you would live and how you would eat.

BEST Connection
Review the BEST consumable and returnable kit list and chart each item according to: made from living matter or mined materials. Explore deeper to determine if various items are metals, alloys or metal compounds. Add new terminology to your Data Mine chart above.

Community Connection
Using a map of your community, your Data Mine chart, and a business directory determine how many businesses in your community are impacted by mining. Evaluate whether they are an end-user, generator, importer, exporter, or otherwise impacted by mining. Identify the location of each business and mark it on the map.

Bloom’s Taxonomy: add, create, explore, evaluate, generate, include, identify, list, observe, reflect, review, subdivide, use, write

Workforce Skills: critical thinking, materials evaluation, reading comprehension, science, writing

Copyright 2015 Friends of BEST in Alabama, Inc.