This coal education resource kit for grades K-2 was developed by the Illinois Department of Energy and Natural Resources (ENR). The kit contains activities designed to help students become familiar with the origin of coal and the process involved in its development, become familiar with safety equipment used by coal miners and understand why the…

This teaching unit explores coal as an energy resource. Goals, student objectives, background information, and activity options are presented for each major section. The sections are: (1) an introduction to coal (which describes how and where coal was formed and explains the types of coal); (2) the mining of coal (including the methods and ways of…

Discusses the composition and properties of various types of coal. Follows the origin of coal and amounts available in the ground. Explores the anaerobic decay needed to produce coal. Touches upon the greenhouse effect. (MVL)