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Teach PA History
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Working Where the Sun Never Shines
Equipment & Supplies
  • LCD Projector and Laptop Computer (Optional) Yellow and Green Highlighters (1 of each color per student)
Procedures

Day One



  1. On the board write the title of the lesson, "Working Where the Sun Never Shines" and explore initial class ideas of what this lesson may be about.


  2. Divide the students into groups of 4 or 5 (depending upon class size).


  3. Distribute Student Worksheet 1-NARA Photo Analysis and one different photo from the Teacher Resource Section to each group of students:

    You might choose to give the same photo to each group or a different photo to each group.


  4. Instruct the students to analyze the photograph they have been assigned by answering the questions on Student Worksheet 1-NARA Photo Analysis. Allow 10 minutes for this activity.


  5. Each group should share their analysis with the class. An LCD projector can be used to display the photographs to the entire class. If an LCD projector is not available, a copy should be provided for each group.


  6. Make a list of observations/problems on the board from the data collected from each photograph.


  7. Explain to the students that the key objective of "Work Where the Sun Never Shines" is to identify the working conditions of the coal miners and their attempts to solve the problems they faced working in the mines. This objective will be met through the analysis of primary sources such as photographs, petition letters, news articles, and legislation documents.


  8. Jig-Saw Cooperative Group Activity:
    Keep the students in the original group of 4 or 5 (depending upon class size). Assign each group a letter (A-E or F) and explain to them that their lettered group is their Core Group. In each Core Group have the students count off 1 to 4 or 5. The numbers will identify the Research Groups. Each member of the Core Group is to research a different source document to identify problems faced by miners in the mines and against mining companies. Each Core Group should break into their Research Groups.
    Each Research Group is to be provided with one of the Student Handouts listed below and Student Worksheet 2-Misery of the Mines: Problems/Solutions Graphic Organizer


    • Student Handout 1-Research Group 1

    • Student Handout 2-Research Group 2

    • Student Handout 3-Research Group 3

    • Student Handout 4-Research Group 4

    • Student Handout 5-Research Group 5


    Students are to read, analyze, and highlight in yellow the problems faced by miners in the mines and against mining companies. The teacher should facilitate and guide this research. They should then list their ideas in the "Problems" column of Student Worksheet 2. The teachers should facilitate this activity by visiting each group and discussing their ideas. Allow approximately 20 minutes for this task. Research members should return to their Core Groups and report their findings. Each member in the Core Group should record the data in the "Problems" column of Student Worksheet 2.


  9. Discuss data as a class and list them on the board.


  10. In the Core Groups instruct students to discuss and present possible solutions for the problems faced by miners in the mines and against mining companies. Students should list these ideas in the "Possible Solutions" column of Student Worksheet 2. Discuss group ideas as a class and list them on the board.


  11. For homework, distribute Student Handout 6-Overview of the Role of Labor Unions. Students are to read, analyze and highlight in green the solutions or attempts taken by miners and labor unions to improve working conditions.


Day Two



  1. Ask students to recall the problems faced by miners in the mid-eighteenth and nineteenth century in western Pennsylvania, as well as the proposed solutions presented by the groups on Day One.


  2. Ask students to return to their Research Groups from Day One.


  3. Explain to the students that they will now research the solutions taken by miners in an attempt to improve the working conditions in the mines and against mining companies.


  4. Each Research Group should use the same Student Handouts they were assigned on Day One, as well as Student Handout 6-Overview of the Role of Labor Unions. Each group is to read, analyze and highlight in green the solutions or attempts taken by miners and labor unions to improve working conditions. They are then to record their ideas in the "Solutions" column of the Student Worksheet 2. The teacher should facilitate this activity by visiting each group and discussing their ideas. Allow approximately 20 minutes for this task.


  5. Students should then return to their Core Groups and share their research. Each Core Group member should record the solutions in the "Solutions" column of Student Worksheet 2.


  6. Share and discuss ideas as a class. Record the responses on the board.


  7. Maintain the Core Groups of students and distribute Student Worksheet 3-Declaration of Safety Measures for Miners.


  8. Instruct students to follow the format of the Declaration of Independence to create a Declaration of Safety Measures for Miners. The document should include a purpose, a list of rights, a list of grievances and a resolution. To complete this assignment, students may refer to Student Worksheet 2 and the Primary Source Images and handout documents utilized throughout the lesson.


  9. Share and display the Declarations as a class.

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