Lesson 2: The Making of Steel
Middle school : Lesson 1 | Lesson 2 | Lesson 3 | Lesson 4
Lesson plan developed by Laurie Welken.
There are many photographs in this collection that show the furnaces, coke ovens and mills used to create steel. To increase students' appreciation of the amazing photos they will need to better understand how steel is made. Through this lesson students will get a begin to understand the process and gain an appreciation of the enormity of the facility and the influence it had on the building of the city to run the steel plant.
Standards alignment
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Indiana Academic Standards for Science: Grade 8
- 8.1.8: Explain that humans help shape the future by generating knowledge, developing new technologies, and communicating ideas to others.
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NCTE/IRA List of Standards for the English Language Arts
- 1. Students read a wide range of print and nonprint texts to build an understanding of texts, of themselves, and of the cultures of the United States and the world...
- 6. Students apply knowledge of language structure, language conventions ... media techniques, figurative language, and genre to create, critique, and discuss print and nonprint texts.
- 7. Students conduct research on issues and interests by generating ideas and questions, and by posing problems...
- 8. Students use a variety of technological and information resources ... to gather and synthesize information and to create and communicate knowledge.
- 12. Students use spoken, written, and visual language to accomplish their own purposes...
Guiding questions
- How is steel made?
- How pervasive is steel in our society?
- What would be an alternative to steel?
Learning objectives
After completing this lesson, students will be able to:
- Explain the process by which steel is made.
- Compare and contrast the different stages of steel making.
- Give examples of steel products.
- Give examples of alternatives to steel.
Preparation
Become familiar with the steel making process. Some possible resources include:
- Steel - 2000 Million Years in the Making (Now only at the Internet Archive)
- SteelMATTER
Lesson plan
- Have students familiarize themselves with the steel making process. The web sites above are a great way to see the process simply.
- Have students draw their own flow chart to sequence the process of steel making. Label each step.
- Compare and contrast parts of the process.
- Have students search the US Steel Photograph Collection for examples of each of the stages of steel making.
- Have students research items that are made of steel and what an alternative to steel might be.
Extending the lesson
Have students make a presentation about the steel making process. Let students use their imagination and come up with their own presentation ideas. They may choose to present it with a poster board, build a model, use a PowerPoint presentation, or put on a skit to show the process of steel making. Give extra points for creativity.