In Coal Country by Judith Hendershot

                   This children's book tells the story of growing up in a coal-mining town through the eyes of a coal miner's daughter.

Pages: 36

Ages 4-8.

If you are working with 5-8 year old students you might use use the In Coal Country_Vocabulary page, specifically the clap, chant, write activity to introduce the tier one vocabulary words. After introducing the vocabulary words read the In Coal Country book using the following strategies:

• Ask the students to make predictions based on the title and the cover of the book.
• Page through the book, looking at the pictures only.
• Read the book, highlighting the vocabulary words that you introduced. 
• Ask questions as you read the story.
• At the end of the book ask the children questions that elicit high-level thinking.
• Then discuss their predictions.

After reading the book, use the Coal Flowers - A Historical Craft:

Overview:

Students observe the process of crystallization in the making of coal flowers, a historic craft among coal mining families.

Click here for this lesson: In Coal Country – Supplementary Lessons.docx

 Note: This activity would need to be done by the teacher or with extra help in the classroom.

If you are working with 9-11 year old students you might use the lesson plan that's objective is:

     Given the primary source document Living in a Coal Town the students will analyze and interpret it to gain a perspective on how industry and technology have changed      in North Dakota.

Click here for this lesson: In Coal Country – Lesson.doc

*Prerequisite: The following lesson plan will need to be conducted prior to the In Coal Country Lesson: InCoalCountry_Vocabulary Intro.doc

If you are working with 12-14 year old students you might use the following In Coal Country content:

• Instead of reading the In Coal Country book. Use the documentary found on the In Coal Country_Resources page.The documentary is called Living in a Coal Town.  This can be used as a primary source document. OR
• Use the following link: Minnesota Historical Society  to find photos, art, posters, and other historical documents relating to coal mining in Minnesota. These documents can also be used as a primary source document to elicit discussion about coal mining and it's importance to Minnesota.
• Students can then do any or all of the supplementary lesson plans found here: In Coal Country – Supplementary Lessons.docx

Links:

In Coal Country_Vocabulary

In Coal Country_Resources

In Coal Country_Lesson Plans

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