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Chronological Reasoning and Causation

Sand Mining's Geographical Impact

Student View

About this Activity

  1. Load Sand Mining Steers Sand Pit in Main Document Viewer
  2. Load Colton's Road Map of Long Island in Main Document Viewer
  3. Load Suffolk County Map, V. 2, Double Page Plate No. 1 in Main Document Viewer

Suggested Teaching Instructions

Have your students complete the activity on Consider the Source or in the optional Google Slide deck.

Link to Google Slide: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1vIILclJdW66uXTSlfmltWKtIHyDW-fobAxR-tfaxeoo/edit?usp=sharing

 Title: Sand Mining’s Effects on Geography Over Time

Context: Sand Mining ws a very controversial development in the United States. It was great for many businessmen but it had an adverse effect on the envirnoment and geography. A true example of how rising business can impact the environment and those around it.

 Overview: Using maps and photographs from the Northport Historical Society, students will analyze how the sand mining industry created long term geographic changes to the shoreline of Northport.

Goal: Introduce students to the sand mining industry and how maps and photographs have documented its effects.

 Objectives: 

  • Students will be able to compare and contrast maps to identify the effects of industrial sand mining on local geography.

Investigative (Compelling) Question: 

How did the sand mining industry affect the geography of Northport?

 Time Required

  • One 40-minute class period

    • Introduction and prediction making (15 minutes)

    • Map analysis (10 minutes)

    • Comparing and contrasting prediction with evidence (5 minutes)

    • Expression and reflection (10 minutes)

 Recommended Grade Range

  • 7

 Subject: Social Studies

Standards: 

  • 7D2 Distinguish human activities and human-made features from “environments” (natural events or physical features—land, air, and water—that are not directly made by humans) and describe the relationship between human activities and the environment.

  • 7D3 Identify and analyze how environments affect human activities and how human activities affect physical environments in the United States. 

Credits: Anne Lotito-Schuh

PREPARATION 

Materials Used: Google Slides Presentation, which contains images and slides where students can directly type their answers.

Resources Used: 

(1960). [Picture of sand mining operation at Eaton’s Neck] [Photograph] Northport Historical Society, Northport, NY.

Google. (2022) [Google Map of Eaton's Neck.] Retrieved August 30, 2022 https://www.google.com/maps/@40.9371888,-73.3930758,13.5z.

Lionel Pincus and Princess Firyal Map Division, The New York Public Library. (1897). Colton's road map of Long Island Retrieved from https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/de5c02e0-c6ba-0133-c90f-00505686a51c

Lionel Pincus and Princess Firyal Map Division, The New York Public Library. (1902 - 1909). Suffolk County, V. 2, Double Page Plate No. 1 [Map bounded by Lloyds Neck, Eaton Neck, North Port, East North Port, Little Neck, Center Port, Greenlawn, Huntington, West Neck] Retrieved from https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/a6539e0c-ec39-fdb2-e040-e00a18061a2e

PROCEDURE

 Description of Procedure: 

  • Connect: 

1. Setting the Stage: Define “sand mining” and how we use objects manufactured from sand every day. In small groups, ask students to brainstorm a list of all the objects manufactured from sand they used so far that day.

  • Wonder: 

2. Students will view a photograph that shows the sand mining operation on Eaton’s Neck in Northport. Ask students to think about how the sand mining industry may have changed the landscape over time. 

(1960). [Picture of sand mining operation at Eaton’s Neck] [Photograph] Northport Historical Society, Northport, NY.

  • Investigate: 

3. Students will view an 1897 map of the Eatons Neck peninsula in Northport and predict how the sand mining industry may have changed the peninsula over time.

Lionel Pincus and Princess Firyal Map Division, The New York Public Library. (1897). Colton's road map of Long Island Retrieved from https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/de5c02e0-c6ba-0133-c90f-00505686a51c

4. Students will view a 1902-1909 map of the same peninsula and make observations about changes.

Lionel Pincus and Princess Firyal Map Division, The New York Public Library. (1902 - 1909). Suffolk County, V. 2, Double Page Plate No. 1 [Map bounded by Lloyds Neck, Eaton Neck, North Port, East North Port, Little Neck, Center Port, Greenlawn, Huntington, West Neck] Retrieved from https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/a6539e0c-ec39-fdb2-e040-e00a18061a2e

5. Students will view a 2022 Google map of the same peninsula and make observations about changes.

Google. (2022) [Google Map of Eaton's Neck.] Retrieved August 30, 2022 https://www.google.com/maps/@40.9371888,-73.3930758,13.5z.

  • Construct: 

6. Have students go back to their prediction from the 1897 map and ask them to compare their prediction to the evidence from the maps. 

  • Express: 

7. Ask students to imagine that they are archivists with the Northport Historical Society curating an exhibit on the sand mining industry and its effects on the geography of Eatons Neck. As archivists, they are tasked with writing a caption for a display of the three maps that explains how the maps relate to the sand mining industry in Northport.

  • Reflect: Ask students to list one new insight they have about sand mining and its effect on the geography of Long Island and one new question for future thinking.

 Extensions Investigate the environmental impact of sand mining on the Long Island shoreline and globally.

EVALUATION

 Evaluation: Students will record their responses on the Google Slide deck where they will answer the compelling question using evidence from the photograph and maps in this lesson.

RETURN TO RESULTS