Careers in mining

Title: Careers in Mining
Level: Secondary
Day/Time: Approx. 30 minutes
KERA Goals: 2.36

Background Information:
Today's society faces complex problems. The population is increasing, and our natural resources are decreasing. We all need to work together to manage those resources wisely. In the 90's and beyond, more scientists and engineers will be called upon to find the answers to protecting Earth's mineral resource. The need for trained scientists and engineers is expected to increase greatly...especially in the mining industry, which supplies the world's mineral products. Ask the students if they'd be interested in a mining career, then try the activity to see which jobs might suit them best.

Activity 1: Mining Careers

Materials:
Mining Careers student handout

1. Have the students think about what type of work they would like to be involved in. Then go through the questions on the list below, and have them each write down the following traits that apply to them.

Do you like to work with people?

Do you like to work with plants and the environment?

Do you like to work with animals?

Do you like to work with tools and instruments?

Are you good at working with equipment, machinery, or driving vehicles?

Are you good at communicating?

Are you good at managing or supervising?

Do you enjoy gathering, searching, and researching?

Are you a good problem solver?

Are you good at persuading people?

Do you like mathematics and physical sciences?

Do you like to work with computers?

2. Then pass out the Mining Careers student handout, and let them see what type of mining careers they might be cut out for.

IF YOU...	YOU MIGHT MAKE A GOOD...
enjoy gathering, searching and researching	Geologist
are a good problem solver	Industrial Designer
enjoy gathering, searching and researching like mathematics and physical sciences are good at managing or supervising	Mining Engineer
enjoy gathering, searching and researching are a good problem solver are good at managing or supervising	Plant Engineer
enjoy gathering, searching and researching are a good problem solver are good at managing or supervising like to work with plants and the environment like to work with animals	Environmental Engineer
like to work with plants and the environment like to work with animals are good at managing or supervising	Wildlife Manager
like to work with people are good at communicating	Public Relations and Marketing Professional
enjoy gathering, searching and researching are a good problem solver like to work with computers	Data Processing Specialist
like working with tools and instruments like working with equipment, driving vehicles	Miner
like working with tools and instruments	Plant Worker
like working with people are good at communicating and persuading people	Sales Representative