Building Square Set Timbers out of
Gumdrops
AUTHOR: Amy Richards
HISTORICAL
TOPIC/ERA:
GRADE LEVEL(S):
4-6
TIME REQUIRED: 2 - 30 minute
sessions
INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND:
The Comstock Lode of
1859 in
One such advancement
was the development of square set timbering. Unlike gold deposits in
STUDENT
LEARNING GOALS/OBJECTIVES:
Content/Language
Goal: I can explain what is a square set timber, who developed it, and how this
development allowed miners to retrieve more ore. With a partner, I can build an
example of the square set timber system, using gumdrops and toothpicks.
MATERIALS/SPECIAL
ARRANGEMENTS:
For the building of the square set timbers: 12 toothpicks per student and
eight gumdrops. If you want students to connect their cribs, then additional
supplies will be needed
·
Book:
·
Online
Nevada Encyclopedia www.onlinenevada.org
·
Virtual
tour of Chollar Mine www.onlinenevada.org/media/?id=192
·
Worksheet:
see below
Additional Resources
·
Photo of a
cross section of square set timbering http://www.onlinenevada.org/media/?id=266
·
Photo of
Phillip Deideshimer http://www.onlinenevada.org/media/?id=158
·
Article on
Square Set timbering http://www.onlinenevada.org/square_set_timbering
ACTIVITIES/STRATEGIES:
1. As a class, read pages 118-119 in Nevada:
Our Home, to build background knowledge about mining conditions and square
set timbers.
2. Pass out the worksheet, explaining how each
student will be taking a virtual tour of a 19th century mine. Review
the material they will be looking for, reminding them that some of the answers
will require them to take a 360 degree view of the mine.
3. Following the directions on the worksheet,
students will locate the correct URL and begin the virtual tour.
4. Direction for
the virtual tour are: Go to www.onlinenevada.org/mining. Click on the Media Gallery button, found
on the right hand side. A new window will pop up. Scroll half way down the list
of images, until you see “Chollar Mine”. Click on the image. Another window
will pop up, which is the beginning of the tour.
5. As students
explore the mine, they record facts and sketch pictures of what they see.
6. After everyone
has explored the mine, bring the class back together to discuss their findings.
With a partner, have students share their sketches and the information each
found.
EVALUATION OF
STUDENT LEARNING:
·
Worksheet
·
Correct
model of a square set timber
·
Written
response question: Knowing what you do about square set timbers, write a thank
you to Philip Deidesheimer from the perspective of a 19th century
miner.
Directions for
building a square set timber.
1.
Model
for the class, a long tunnel, using the toothpicks and gumdrops. Discuss how
the long tunnel doesn’t hold up and collapses. Their job is to build a
replicate of Philip Deidesheimer’s square set timbers.
2.
Pass
out 12 toothpicks and 8 gumdrops to each student.
3.
Explain
how with a partner, each student will build a model of a crib, using these
supplies.
4.
Have
students discuss with their partner how to build a square set timber with their
given supplies. Once they think they know how, have them begin.
5.
As
students build their cribs, which will be a cube, have them test the strength
of their crib, by placing objects on top. As they add heavier and heavier
objects, have them discuss with their partner how this technology affected
miners.
If
time, have partners connect their cribs together and repeat the placement of
heavy objects on top. Are two cribs stronger than one? What happens if others
are added?
Worksheet (2 sided)
Square Set Timbering
Content Objective: I can record information found on the
virtual Chollar Mine tour. I can sketch a picture of a square set timber, ore
bucket and a pneumatic drill.
Directions for
entering the Chollar Mine.
Chollar Mine Virtual Tour Web Hunt
Outside the Mine
Inside the Mine
|
2 facts about square set timbering 1.
________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ 2.
________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ |
2 facts about the ore bucket 1.
________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ 2.
________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ |
2 facts about the pneumatic drills 1.
________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ 2.
________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ |
|
Sketch |
Sketch |
Sketch |