Teacher Developed Activity, T-DA

Teacher Developed Activity, T-DA!

Troy Higgins

Activity Name: Deadliest Day-Is anything learned from past disasters? Seminar: Building America

Grade Ban: 4-8

For use with lessons about: Mining/Dangers of Underground Mining

Time Needed: (2) 60 minute class periods

Materials :

; Map showing the Milford Mine location in Crosby, MN

; The Crosby Courier dated Feb. 5, 1924-“Forty-One Miners Meet Death in Milford

Mine”

; The Crosby Courier dated June 20, 1924-“4 Bodies Taken From Milford”

; Minnesota’s Iron Country-Rich ore, Rich lives by Marvin G. Lamppa Excerpt from

p.193-94

; Other Milford Mine resources

; Primary Source Documents: Mining Statistics

; Handout of T-chart comparing mining practices from 1920’s with those of today

Overview : This activity is designed to teach students about the dangers associated with underground mining.

Essential question: Was there more than one way to go down or come out of the underground shaft? Was anyone found liable for the death of the 41 men who lost their lives in the Milford Mine? Is mining any safer today than in the 1920’s?

Outcomes :

; Students will be able to identify the dangers that are associated with underground mining.

; Students will make a T-chart comparing and contrasting dangers of underground mining

back in the 1920’s with the underground mining practices of today by using the internet.

; Students will analyze and evaluate whether or not mining safety has improved since the

Milford Mine disaster in 1924.

Activity steps:

1. Read headlines from The Crosby Courier-Feb. 8, 1924 “Forty-One Miners Meet

Death in Milford Mine”

2. Show students where the Cuyana Iron Range and Milford Mine are located on a map.

3. Read excerpt from The Crosby Courier-June 20, 1924 “Four Bodies Taken from

Milford”

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Minnesota Humanities Center 1 www.minnesotahumanities.org

4. Examine Mining statistics

5. Read Minnesota’s Iron Country: Rich Ore, Rich Lives by Marvin Lamppa-“Tragedy

at the Milford”

6. In small groups have students discuss any hardships that may have occurred for

families due to the Milford Mine disaster.

7. Students will be given a T-chart handout and be asked to use the internet to find

information comparing and contrasting mining practices of the 1920’s to those used

today.

Blackline masters: Map showing location of Cuyuna Iron Range and Milford Mine

Handout: T-chart that students will use to compare mining practices back in 1924, when Milford Mine collapsed, with those methods used in underground mining today.

Background Information: Minnesota’s Iron Country: Rich Ore, Rich Lives by Marvin Lamppa

(2004).

Rubric/Assessment tool: T-chart comparing mining practices back in 1924, when Milford Mine collapsed, with those used in underground mining of today.

Additional resources: Frank Hrvatin Oral History, 1976-05-11; Iron Range Research Center, Chisholm, MN.

“Forty-One Miners Meet Death in Milford Mine,” The Crosby Courier, February 8, 1924; Iron

Range Research Center, Chisholm, MN.

“4 Bodies Taken from Milford,” The Crosby Courier, June 20, 1924; Iron Range Research

Center, Chisholm, MN.

Fisher Company.

Minnesota Historical Society – Communities “Dangers of Mining”

http://www.mnhs.org/school/online/communities/milestones/DANdoc1T_transcript.htm

http://www.mnhs.org/school/online/communities/milestones/milestones_dangers_of_mining.htm

“Failure to Learn: Destined to Repeat”

http://www.newshopper.net/pdfs/CuyunaMining/Miningpart1.pdf

http://www.newshopper.net/pdfs/CuyunaMining/Miningpart2.pdf

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Minnesota Humanities Center 2 www.minnesotahumanities.org

http://www.newshopper.net/pdfs/CuyunaMining/Miningpart3.pdf

http://www.newshopper.net/pdfs/CuyunaMining/Miningpart4.pdf

Ghosts of the Prairie: Milford Mine Accident

http://www.prairieghosts.com/mine.html

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Minnesota Humanities Center 3 www.minnesotahumanities.org

DOCSFORD

Teacher Developed Activity, T-DA