Land mine

High school (ages 12+)
Safety & Emergency

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/land-mine

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the classification?Anti-personnel (AP) and anti-tank (AT) mines, distinguished by their intended targets
2. What is the primary activation method?Pressure-sensitive fuzes, though tripwires and other sensors are also used
3. What is a land mine and how does it work?A land mine is a hidden explosive that can go off when someone steps on it. It usually has a pressure sensor that pushes a spring, which hits a small detonator and starts the big explosion.
4. Why are land mines dangerous to people who are not fighting?Land mines cannot tell the difference between soldiers and civilians. They can injure or kill anyone who walks or drives over them, which is why they are a big problem for families and communities.

Anti-Personnel Mine: A mine designed to injure or kill individuals, often triggered by foot pressure.
Anti-Tank Mine: A mine designed to disable or destroy armored vehicles, requiring greater trigger force.
Ottawa Treaty: An international agreement banning the use, stockpiling, production, and transfer of anti-personnel land mines.