African American Trailblazers: Arthur Ashe (VIDEO!)

What is "technology"?

Is "technology" just computers and electronics? Is technology only new stuff?

Our issue of VA Studies Weekly says this: "Industrial economies are made possible by technology. Cities had new technology like paved roads and streetcars."

So "paved roads" is an example of technology? What else can be considered technology?

Check out this funny video... It may surprise you!

The 5 Regions of Virginia Video

In this video kids demonstrate the differences between the 5 regions of Virginia.

So you wanted to learn more about coal mining...

After reading about the coal mining industry in the Appalachian Plateau Region of Virginia, our class had so many questions!

Some of our questions about deep mining:
How do they breath underground?
How far underground do they go?
How do they hold up the ceiling of the tunnels?
Isn't it very dangerous?
What kind of machines do they use?
What is it like to be a coal miner?

Some of our questions about surface mining:
Does it create a lot of pollution?
Does it destroy animal habitat?
Does it create an avalanche?
What does it look like?

Fortunately, I was able to find some short videos that will help us understand what coal mining looks and feels like.

This first video shows mines in Virginia, both deep and surface. Listen for how far down they are in the deep mine. Also, keep in mind that this video is a few years old. Coal is more in demand now that oil is so expensive. What do coal and oil have in common?



The mine in this next video ("Quecreek Coal mine") is not in Virginia-- it's in Pennsylvania. But this dramatic video gives us an idea of some of the dangers that go along with deep mining. Did you know that mines could flood?

What is the Great Dismal Swamp like?

Does it really really a dismal place?



How is the Great Dismal Swamp an important part of Virginia history?

Container Ship Being Loaded

This is so cool! Watch this time-lapse video of a container ship being Loaded. Can you see the trucks? Unloading works the same way-- in reverse. Can you imagine how your banana got to the grocery store?

Booker T. Washington

We read about Booker T. Washington in our Social Studies textbook. Can you find the page in our text that talks about the Booker T. Washington National Monument? Why do you think there is a National Monument named after him?

Can you imagine starting a school without a building?



What do these quotations mean to you?