The Gulf Oil Spill
Eighty percent of the Earth’s surface is covered in water—so an oil spill’s effects have the potential to be catastrophic and limitless. A year has passed since the devastating oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, but the long-term impacts are still unknown. We do know, however, that the oil has not gone away; and what we don’t see now is becoming much more important than what we do continue to see washing up on shores.
Living organisms rely on water for survival, and ecosystems can spiral into a state of peril when the water system is compromised. By taking the lessons we have learned from the Gulf oil spill, we can promote environmental preservation in the classroom and encourage students to do their part in protecting our planet’s water. Through the CleanUP Action Guide, lesson plans, and related resources, students will be urged to analyze their lifestyles, investigate petroleum’s effects on humans’ health and surroundings, and explore the implications of our nation’s reliance on oil. Most importantly, these resources will trigger student thought and reflection about the change that our world needs. Students will be inspired to brainstorm ways to preserve our natural resources and live environmentally-friendly lives.
Lesson Plans
- What's The Connection to Me?
What personal products did you use today? Lip balm, check. Shampoo, check. How about modes of transportation? Drove to school, check. Rode the bus, check. What is the connection between these products and activities? Petroleum!
- Additional Lesson Plans
The following oil spill-related lesson plans come from exemplary organizations across the country. We hope that you find them useful in your classroom.
- 1Capturing the Oil
- 2Sunscreen and Water Pollution
- 3Litter on the Beach: Cigarette Filters
- 4Latest Solution and Long-Term Consequences of the Spill
- 5Deep Water Horizon Explodes
- 6Environmental Concerns
- 7Plastic Trash
- 8The Harmful Effects of Gel Shave Cream
- 9Energy Vampires in the Bedroom
- 10Fuel Alternatives
- 11Global Warming and the Ocean
Related Resources
- Philippe Cousteau Spotlight on the Gulf - Archived Webinar
Comments
- jaxon t.
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I am doing a science project on this.
- November 9, 2011, 3:53 PM
- @Stephen Chin (EarthEcho Interntional)
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Stephen,
Thank you for suggesting the connection to hydroponics and aquaponics. This isn't something we've considered before, but makes a great deal of sense. Are there any instructional resources you could recommend? Thank you very much.
- May 16, 2011, 9:43 PM
- Stephen Chin
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The materials on water processing/filtering, water chemistry, plant/algae nutrients (phosphates/nitrates) work well when students are introduced to the concepts needed to build, understand, and maintain either hydroponic systems (for growing plants, or simple algae) or more complicated aquaponic systems (where the waste nutrients from the fish is converted by bacteria into nitrates which the plants/algae can consume). Students who are focusing on genetics/biotechnology can search for oil eating bacteria in the context of "Gulf Oil Spill".
- April 26, 2011, 5:24 PM
- @Lisa Bever (EarthEcho International)
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Lisa,
We have had wonderful experiences working with several middle and high schools in the Gulf region. We would be more than happy to make an introduction. Please email Mia DeMezza (EarthEcho International's COO) at mia@earthecho.org to set up a time for a call to discuss this further and get you connected with a school that will be a good fit for what you have in mind. Thank you- looking forward to speaking with you!
- December 10, 2010, 1:56 PM
- @Melanie Billings (EarthEcho International)
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Melanie,
Thank you for your kind words and you suggestions for improving the on-line resources. We are looking for video and other materials that address the capping of the well, per your suggestion, as well as a more recent update on the state of the Gulf following the spill.
- December 10, 2010, 1:55 PM
- @Gloria Mandell (EarthEcho International)
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Gloria,
Thank you for your suggestions for improving the Water Planet Challenge's on-line resources. New resources will be coming at the end of January that will include an update on where the oil spilled into the Gulf this summer is now.
- December 10, 2010, 1:54 PM
- @Luz Jarzen & Beatriz Rodriguez (EarthEcho Int'l)
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Luz and Beatriz,
Thank you so much for your interest in using the Water Planet Challenge in Spanish. We are looking forward to translating our materials into Spanish in the future. In the meantime, we will look for high quality Spanish language materials created by other organizations that we can recommend to you.
- December 10, 2010, 1:53 PM
- Lisa Bever
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Our school would like to connect with a school on the gulf. Any ideas?
- November 4, 2010, 9:30 AM
- Melanie Billings
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This is an excellent resource. It would be more useful if there were a video component of what has been done to cap the well now. Also, it would be good to have a source of information about how the anatomy of the well itself (the fact that it was pumping oil from such great depths) created the pressure that made it even harder to cap the well. Thanks for the resources!
- October 27, 2010, 7:12 AM
- Gloria Mandell
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Is there any information on where the oil may have gotten to by now?
- October 26, 2010, 7:08 PM
- Beatri z Rodriguez
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I would love to use this information for my spanish class. Is there anything availble in Spanish?
- October 26, 2010, 4:18 PM
- Luz Jarzen
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Do you have any information/lessons available for Spanish learners? Thanks!
- October 26, 2010, 4:09 PM
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