CONNECT

On our planet, we have a plethora of natural materials that help us live our everyday lives. From natural gas resources, fresh water, oil, and metals, humans have been able to harness these materials to create energy. One of the most common resources used in the United States, is energy that comes from the fossil fuel, coal. Coal is used to generate electricity for stoves, water heaters, and even lighting. To access this resource, humans have to engage in surface mining in order to remove surface materials to uncover resources. Although coal has many uses, coal is an example of a limited, nonrenewable resource as coal is formed over millions of years from ancient animals and plants; once it is used up it cannot be replaced quickly enough to replenish the resource-need. Typically, as human populations and the consumption of natural resources increase, so do the negative impacts to Earth’s systems, including the biosphere, or the parts of Earth where life exists. In this lesson, students will explore the negative effects of surface mining and overconsumption of coal on our biosphere.