Guide Author

Terri Haakenson, Joyce Baumann

District

Rocori ISD 750

Date Created

8/31/11

Guide Description

Exploring Mining Life in Minnesota

Title of Main Academic Standard used in Guide

Minnesota Academic Standards: Science K-12, 2009 version

Grade Level

4

Learning Level

Introductory

National Holiday/Special Occasion (optional)

Source Format Emphasized

Photos, Maps

Geographic Region Emphasized (optional)

Minnesota

Other Minnesota Reflections Guide(s) Related to this Guide (optional

Standard Title

Minnesota Academic Standards: Science K-12, 2009 version

Category

Strand

3. Earth and Space Science

Sub-strand

1. Earth Structure and Processes

Standard

3. Rocks are Earth materials that may vary in composition.

Benchmark 1: standard number

4.3.1.3.1

Benchmark 1: text

Recognize that rocks may be uniform or made of mixtures of different minerals.

Benchmark 2: standard number

4.3.1.3.2

Benchmark 2: text

Describe and classify minerals based on their physical properties.

Benchmark 3: standard number

Benchmark 3: text

Benchmark 4: standard number

Benchmark 4: text

Standard Title

Minnesota Academic Standards - English Language Arts K-12 2010

Category

Strand

Reading Benchmarks: Literature K-5

Sub-strand

Standard

Integration of Knowledge and Ideas

Benchmark 1: standard number

4.2.7.7.

Benchmark 1: text

7. Interpret information presented visually, orally, or quantitatively (e.g., in charts, graphs, diagrams, time lines, animations, or interactive elements on Web pages) and explain how the information contributes to an understanding of the text in which it appears.

Benchmark 2: standard number

Benchmark 2: text

Benchmark 3: standard number

Benchmark 3: text

Benchmark 4: standard number

Benchmark 4: text

Reading: standard number

Reading: standard text

Math: standard number

Math: standard text

Media Literacy: standard number

4.8.1.1.

Media Literacy: standard text

Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 4 topics and texts, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly.

Interdisciplinary Connection

Things to Think About

Is there specific commodity or area you want students to learn about? How in depth do you want to go with the information/research?

Keywords

Mining, Geology, Minerals

Other ideas (to assist with discovery)

Challenges to finding resources on this standard

There are a lot of primary sources on this topic. Narrowing down the results you are looking for will help your search.

Title

Date created

Description

Format (photo, map, letter …)

"Cite the Item" link

Soudan Mine, Safety First, Soudan, Minnesota

1950-1962

Underground miners posing in front of a safety first display near the head frame. This photo shows that safety is this important.

Photograph

http://reflections.mndigital.org/u?/p15160coll3,63

First shipment out of the Mountain Iron Mine, Mountain Iron

1893

Mountain Iron Mine in winter, featuring steam shovel, executives, and iron miners. The equipment, clothing, and the fact of the "new" digging site was interesting.

Photograph

http://reflections.mndigital.org/u?/irrc,2227

Elisha J. Morcom with his compound steam engine, Soudan, Minnesota

1882-1890

Elisha J. Morcom working on his compound steam engine. It was used in the Soudan Mine. An interesting piece of machinery that was probably cutting edge at the time. Something to compare to the current equipment being used.

Photograph

http://reflections.mndigital.org/u?/p15160coll3,62

Soudan Mine underground driller, Soudan, Minnesota

6-25-1942

Driller working on Sullivan drill at Soudan Mine. Another good photo of the job. Looking at the photo, even with the environment as it is, the miner is calm, just another day at work. The equipment looks very basic. Something to compare. Also to compare, are there better safety regulations for "holding up the ceiling"?

Photograph

http://reflections.mndigital.org/u?/p15160coll3,60

Soudan Mine, diamond core drill, Soudan, Minnesota

6-25-1942

John Antilla operating an electric core diamond drill machine at the Soudan Mine. A really good photo of a miner at work.

Photograph

http://reflections.mndigital.org/u?/p15160coll3,57

Preliminary geological map of Minnesota.

1872

Geologic map of Minnesota. This map shows the major areas where minerals are predominate in Minnesota.

Geological Map

http://reflections.mndigital.org/u?/mgs,926

The Annual Report of Mine Inspector, St. Louis County, Minnesota, Year 1924

1924

Page 5 of this report talks about the efforts of the mining companies to improve safety measures so the numbers of accidents and injuries decrease. It also talks about the local schools getting involved with safety education. The thought being that train children to ingrain safety so that it will come natural when this generation steps up to work in the mines.

Report

http://reflections.mndigital.org/u?/p15160coll9,344

Soudan Mine ore loader step two, Soudan, Minnesota

6-25-1942

Joseph Tanko getting ready to dump the ore from the Eimco loader into the awaiting ore car at Soudan Mine. A good photo of a miner at work.

Photograph

http://reflections.mndigital.org/u?/p15160coll3,56

Miner's house, Soudan, Minnesota

1884-1890

The Supervisor's house. Notice it is next to what looks to be the mining area. Another side of the mining life.

Photograph

http://reflections.mndigital.org/u?/p15160coll3,40

Miner's living room (view two), Soudan, Minnesota

1884-1890

The domestic side of living in this industry during this period. It is the Supervisor's quarters, so the miners' area would look different. It is a good look at a home's interior, furnishings, heating, and such.

Photograph

http://reflections.mndigital.org/u?/p15160coll3,38

Miner's dining room (view two), Soudan, Minnesota

1884-1890

A good look at the domestic side of life during this period. This is the supervisor's living space. The miners' quarters most likely weren't as luxurious. Something to investigate.

Photograph

http://reflections.mndigital.org/u?/p15160coll3,36

Miner's kitchen and stove, Soudan, Minnesota

1884-1890

The kitchen shown here is a good look at the domestic facilities at home during this period. It is the Supervisor's kitchen, so the minors themselves probably didn't have such luxuries in their living quarters. Something to investigate as well.

Photograph

http://reflections.mndigital.org/u?/p15160coll3,34

Soudan Mine, close up of drill shop workers sharpening bits, Soudan, Minnesota

2-1-1939

This photo is of Jackbit drill sharpeners, another part of the whole process. It shows another aspect in the mining life and what was needed to keep the mining operation going. It would be interesting to learn how long a bit stayed sharpened, what it was made of, and such.

Photograph

http://reflections.mndigital.org/u?/p15160coll3,30

Miners Underground

1915?

This photo of underground miners shows what was used to hold up the roof of the mine. It also shows a candle in a candlestick! Good example of what was going on underground.

Photograph

http://reflections.mndigital.org/u?/nemhc,2363

Mine

1915?

This photo is a good example of the opening to an underground mine in progress. This is the type of thing that comes to mind when we talk about a "mine."

Photograph

http://reflections.mndigital.org/u?/nemhc,2359

Quarry

1888?

In this photo of a sandstone quarry it was interesting to see not only the machinery and equipment of the era, but how relatively shallow the quarry pit was. It would be interesting to compare it to a present photo of the same quarry.

Photograph

http://reflections.mndigital.org/u?/nemhc,1971

Serving Lunch

1917

Oliver Club Picnic, featuring outdoors lunch being served. It seems the whole community got together to support the men and the industry.

Photograph

http://reflections.mndigital.org/u?/irrc,2146

Crow Wing County Historical Society; Mesabi Range College Library; Minnesota Geological Survey; Minnesota Museum of Mining; Soudan Underground Mine State Park

I searched using the words geology, mine, and minerals. The best luck was with mining. There are a lot of documents that may be too difficult for grade 4 students, so be critical when searching!

Compare/contrast different types of mines and mining techniques. Write about a day in the life of a miner. Discuss the different materials mined in Minnesota. Mines. Then/Now changes that have occurred. How have safety issues changed and how mining is done today (OSHA)?

Minnesota Humanities Center. http://minnesotahumanities.org/Resources/mining.aspx

Lesson Plan on the D angers of Mining from the Minnesota Historial Society. http://www.mnhs.org/school/classroom/communities/teachers/lessons/DANlesson.html

Lesson Plan from Lesson Planet. http://www.lessonplanet.com/search?keywords=iron+ore+mining&media=lesson