Activities
Activity 1
• Reviewing Coal as a Fossil Fuel
Objective
Students will review coal as fossil fuel.
Students will describe and illustrate how coal is formed.
Materials
Internet access, resource books, paper, construction paper, rolling pin, nonstick spray or oil,
Procedure
Determine students' knowledge of coal as a fossil fuel. Review concepts if needed:
- Coal is a major energy resource in the world. It is used for heating, producing electricity, and
making various products.
- The formation of coal is due to the accumulation of plant matter, which has undergone changes due
to pressure and heat.
- Coal is composed primarily of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen.
- There are different rankings of coal determined by their carbon content, hardness and heat content.
- Preview how coal is formed. Have student volunteer demonstrate and explain the process of coal
formation.
Evaluation
Assign creative coal formation project. Students explain in writing and illustrate
with models or diagrams, the process of coal formation.
Enrichment
Plan a field trip to collect fossils. Coal regions are common sites for fossil
collecting, primarily fern fossils. (This also reinforces the fact that coal is formed
from plant matter.) A rock and mineral club or geological agency may be of
assistance.
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