Reclaiming the Future: Approach is being recommended for successfully establishing Reforestation in Appalachia productive forests on reclaimed surface mines. Teachers’ Guide This DVD highlights the Forestry Reclamation Approach, but in addition, it can give insight on the importance of reclaimed General Introduction lands, how reclamation should occur, the legal restrictions, and Students in Kentucky are bombarded with information how the University of Kentucky, state and federal agencies regarding the impacts of coal mining on the environment. As conducted research to find solutions to wide-spread educators, we have a responsibility to present as much relevant reclamation issues. and accurate information from as many different perspectives as we can. This DVD presents the research of the Targeted Standards Reforestation of Surface Mined Lands Initiative efforts. It will Social Studies show students that there are ways to mitigate the impacts of Core Content for Assessment 4.1 coal mining on the forests of eastern Kentucky and the Economics recommended approach needed for that protection. This SS-HS-3.1.1 Students will give examples of and explain how Teachers’ Guide presents some Research and Discussion scarcity of resources necessitates choices at both the personal Questions, Activities and Lesson Plan Resources, Literature and societal levels in the modern world (1500 A.D. to present) Connections, Helpful Organizations and Links, and Video- and the United States (Reconstruction to present) and explain recordings under different topic areas that may be used to help the impact of those choices. DOK 2 students gain an understanding of the complex issue of coal mining reclamation in Kentucky. SS-HS-3.3.1 Students will explain and give examples of how numerous factors influence the supply and demand of products Content Background (e.g., supply—technology, cost of inputs, number of sellers: Since the implementation of the Surface Mining and demand—income, utility, price of similar products, consumers' Reclamation Act, many opportunities have been lost for the preferences). DOK 2 reforestation of surface mines in the Eastern United States. Excessive compaction of spoil materials in the backfilling and SS-HS-3.4.3 Students will explain and give examples of how grading process is the biggest impediment to the establishment interdependence of personal, national, and international of productive forests as a post-mining land use. As the result economic activities often results in international issues and of reforestation research, a five step Forestry Reclamation concerns (e.g., natural resource dependencies, economic sanctions, environmental and humanitarian issues) in the modern world (1500 A.D. to present) and the United States economic activities (e.g., natural resource dependencies, (Reconstruction to present). DOK 2 economic sanctions, environmental and humanitarian issues) in the modern world (1500 A.D. to present) and the United States Geography (Reconstruction to present). SS-HS-4.4.2 Students will explain how human modifications to the physical environment (e.g., deforestation, mining), Geography perspectives on the use of natural resources (e.g., oil, water, Students will understand that human actions modify the land), and natural disasters (e.g., earthquakes, tsunamis, floods) physical environment and, in turn, the physical environment may have possible global effects (e.g., global warming, limits or promotes human activities. destruction of the rainforest, acid rain) in the modern world (1500 A.D. to present) and United States (Reconstruction to Science present). DOK 2 Core Content for Assessment 4.1 Energy Transformations Social Studies SC-HS-4.6.7 Program of Studies Students will explain real world applications of energy using Economics information/data. Students will demonstrate an understanding of the nature of limited resources and scarcity in the modern world (1500 A.D. Interdependence to present) and the United States (Reconstruction to present): SC-HS-4.7.1 • explain how scarcity of resources necessitates choices Students will predict the effects on other organisms of changes at both the personal and societal levels, and explain the to one or more components of the ecosystem. impact of those choices. Students will describe relationships between and among SC-HS-4.7.2 markets (e.g., local, national, global) and exchange of goods Students will evaluate proposed solutions from multiple and services: perspectives to environmental problems caused by human • explain factors that influence the supply and demand of interaction; justify positions using evidence/data. products (e.g., supply—technology, cost of inputs, number of sellers; demand—income, utility, price of SC-HS-4.7.3 similar products, consumers' preferences) Students will predict the consequences of changes to any Students will explain results and issues related to component (atmosphere, solid Earth, oceans, living things) of interdependence of personal, national and international the Earth System; propose justifiable solutions to global been at the agencies for different lengths of time. problems. Discuss their views on the changes that have occurred in the industry. Program of Studies 3. Investigate the ups and downs in the prices of oil over Energy Transformations the past 25 years. Explore reasons for the increases and • Analyze a variety of energy sources, their potential uses decreases in prices. Compare those prices to the prices and their relative costs/benefits of coal. Discuss how those price fluctuations impacted Interdependence communities in different regions of Kentucky. • Explore ways to eradicate or lessen environmental 4. The University of Kentucky, Department of Forestry problems caused by human interaction (e.g., examine has been charged not with just growing trees but with programs for habitat restoration or wildlife protection, growing a forest. Compare the structures and functions automotive/industrial emissions standards) of a tree with the structures and functions of a forest. • Investigate changes in ecosystems and propose Discuss the difficulties of re-establishing each on potential solutions to problems by documenting and reclaimed coal mines. communicating solutions to others through multi-media 5. Investigate complaints or lawsuits that community presentations members have filed against coal companies. Discuss • Analyze and describe the effects of events (e.g., fires, ways the coal companies could build better community hurricanes, deforestation, mining, population growth relations. Take the role of a marketing director and and municipal development) on environments from a develop a community relations plan for your “client” variety of perspectives. Use data to propose ways of Ace Coal Company. lessening impacts perceived as negative 6. Investigate the benefits coal mining has brought to Kentucky. Include economic benefits such as our low Research and Discussion Questions energy rates and community benefits such as jobs. 1. Research the state and federal legislation that has been Make sure students look at all perspectives including passed to regulate coal mining in the past 50 years. the increase in technology that tends to lead to a Discuss how each piece of legislation has affected the decrease in jobs. In addition, investigate the adverse economy, landscape, and community development in affects of coal mining, including pollutants released to different geographic regions of Kentucky. the water and land. Debate the benefits and adverse 2. Investigate the structure of regulatory agencies that affects of coal mining in Kentucky. Analyze other monitor coal mining in Kentucky. Interview agency energy sources to see if converting to another source personnel at different positions and those who have would add benefits of alleviate adverse affects. 7. Investigate the coal fields of western Kentucky. resources for the classroom. The purpose for the web site is to Compare the geology, geomorphology, forestry, provide up to date information for teachers and educate the wildlife, land use patterns, hydrology, and sociology to next generation of decision makers, scientists, and business the same features in eastern Kentucky. How do the leaders. different features of these two geographic areas impact reclamation? http://store.channing-bete.com Through this web site, teachers 8. Mining is not the only industry that impacts the can obtain Let’s Learn about Coal: Coloring & Activities Book topography of the Commonwealth. Discuss other for younger students. industries that impact Kentucky’s topography. Research the state and federal legislation that regulates www.teachcoal.org This web site is funded by the American highway and commercial developments. How do these Coal Foundation and gives information about coal, lesson regulations compare with those regulating the mining plans, and many resources including organizations, industry? governmental, and university resources. The lesson plans are 9. After reviewing the reclamation research, design an listed by subject and grade level. The teacher store offers experiment that might be used to test how or where an posters. herbaceous plant or tree might grow best on a reclaimed coal mine. Include a hypothesis, independent and http://www.explorepahistory.com/show_results.php?show=40 dependent variables, constants, controls, and number of This web site is sponsored by a number of educational and repeated trials. historical groups in Pennsylvania. Three lesson plans on coal mining are included. Activities