Science
Light
Miners have always had to battle against the dark. Use these resources to find out about the different light sources used by miners underground and the invention of the flame safety lamp.
Mine Lighting
Fact sheet about the different light sources used by miners underground.
Light and other bright objects worksheet
Group pictures into items which produce light and reflect light.
Light Wordsearch
Revise key words by completing this wordsearch.
Safety Lamp Investigation
Create your own science investigation by looking at what materials you could use to make your own safety lamp.
Create your own Safety Lamp Template
Download our template and make your very own Safety Lamp!
Play this game to explore how light travels
These film clips show miners using different light sources underground
Electricity
Electricity was an important power source underground.
Use these downloadable factsheets and worksheets to find out how electricity was used in mining.
Mine Electricity Factsheet
Learn about what equipment relied on electricity underground.
Electricity Hazards
Can you spot where the electricity hazards are in this picture?
Electricity Circuits Worksheet
Download a tick-box worksheet.
Rock Factsheets
Use these resources to find out how coal was formed and its properties.
Go to our image bank to see pictures of rock and fossil samples and to see different rocks in use around the Museum site.
Factsheet: How Coal is formed
What is coal and how was it formed?
How is Coal mined Factsheet
Coal Measures Factsheet
Find out about why there are different coal seams and how they were formed.
Mine Gases
Factsheet about the potentially life-threatening gases found underground.
Properties of Rocks Factsheet
Explore the different properties of rocks.
Properties of Minerals Factsheet
Rocks and Soil Key Vocabulary Worksheet
Play this interactive game to explore how coal was formed
Forces
Mining machinery in action
See our line shafting machinery in action. This piece of machinery enabled lots of men to work using just one source of power. How many different mechanisms can you spot?
Mining Forces
Download the factsheets and learn about how workers, tools, machines and materials all need to be transported in and out, as well as the coal that has been mined.
Plus learn about how progression in techn ological advances meant coal was mined more efficiently, the different types of transport used underground and how the mining roof was supported.
Coal Cutting Factsheet
Mining Machines- Driving Factsheet
Mining Machines- Roof Factsheet
Mining Machines- Transport
Materials
How are different materials used in mining?
Dudley Insulation Investigation
Keep our miners warm underground worksheet
Materials Worksheet
Revise reversible and irreversible changes.
Blacksmith Video
Watch our Blacksmih at work in the forge. What happens to the metal he is working with?
Materials Video
How did the Blacksmith do his job?
Habitats and Environment
Use the factsheets to find out about creatures that once lived down a mine.
Find out out how coal mining continues to affect the environment today by watching our video with Hector the Heron.
Coal Creatures Worksheet
Explore the minibeasts you could find underground!
Mining Animals Factsheet
Find out about mice, rats, Pit Ponies and cats lived underground.
Water Treatment Factsheet
Find out how the Museum cleans the polluted minewater pumped out from underground.
Water Treatment Video
How do you treat water that's been polluted from the mine? Hector the Heron explains the problems of water treatment underground and how it gets treated after mining coal.
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