1. Stories of People Working Together to Build Alberta A Teaching Resource for Social Studies 4

2. There are many areas in Alberta where coal is mined. This slideshow will help you understand what it was like to mine coal in the early 1900s.

3. What do you think it was like to work in coal mines in the early days?

4. Photo courtesy of Atlas Coal Mine Historical Society

5. In conclusion, bear in memory, keep this password in your mind Worker's strength cannot be broken when unions be combined Stand up tall and stand together, victory for you prevail Oh keep your hands upon your wages and your eye upon the scale (Chorus 2x) Click on Picture A miner's life is like a sailor on board a ship to cross the waves Every day his life's in danger, many ventures being brave Watch the rocks, they're falling daily, careless miners always fail Keep your hand upon your wages and your eye upon the scale Chorus: Union miners, stand together Do not heed the Coal Board's tale Keep your hand upon your wages And your eye upon the scale You've been docked and docked again, boys, you've been loading three for one What's the use in all your working when your mining days are done? Worn out shoes and worn miners, blackened lungs and faces pale Oh keep your hand upon your wages and your eye upon the scale (Chorus)

6. Click on picture to find out how to read a photo. Photo courtesy of Atlas Coal Mining Historical Society

7. Photos courtesy of Atlas Coal Mine Historical Society

8. If you felt a soft sprinkling, like a light rain, it could mean the coal was getting heavy, and the roof was going to cave. Or a squeeze.

9. Portable carbide lamps, worn on the hat or carried by hand, were widely used in mining in the early twentieth century. Read the story “Underground in Wayne” in Presenter View. Photo courtesy of Atlas Coal Mine Historical Society

10. Photo courtesy of Atlas Coal Mining Historical Society

12. Photo courtesy of Atlas Coal Mining Historical Society Excerpt from “Coal Fires at Home” Inspired by the memoires of Douglas Powell

13. Photo courtesy of Atlas Coal Mining Historical Society

14. Read the story of the Italian miner. Powell Family Atlas Coal Mine Historical Society

15. It’s Where We Live, It’s What We Do What have you learned about the lives of coal miners and their families? You will be asked to think about their working conditions and consider ways that they improved them.