National Geographic
Simulate an Oil Spill Cleanup
Environmental emergents read about the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, 2010. They simulate an oil spill and examine the cleanup using various materials. Throughout the process, they try materials that represent booms,...
Curated OER
What Do You Think of Obama's Oval Office Speech on the Oil Spill?
Kids age 13 and older are asked to read the provided Times article and background information in order to construct a thoughtful blog response to Obama's first Oval Office speech. They work to address each of the related critical...
Curated OER
Cartoons for the Classroom: Oil Spill Perspectives
With the BP oil spill still fresh on your scholars' minds, take the opportunity to analyze various perspectives on it through political cartoons. This critical-analysis handout features 2 cartoons on the incident. Background information...
Curated OER
The Gulf Oil Disaster
Students take a closer look at the Gulf oil spill of 2010. In this global issues instructional activity, students analyze political cartoons related to the crisis. Students discuss their impressions of the crisis and U.S. energy policies.
Curated OER
Gulf Oil Spill Fill-In
For this Gulf oil spill worksheet, students examine an article regarding basic facts about the April 20, 2010 oil spill and then respond to 25 fill in the blank questions. A word bank is provided.
Curated OER
The Gulf Oil Spill in the Classroom
Young scholars explore the concept of environmental stewardship. In this interdisciplinary lesson, students investigate the media response to the Gulf oil spill as they examine live streaming video, interpret data, and share their...
Curated OER
An Oil Spill Primer for Students
In this Gulf oil spill worksheet, students examine a 4-page article regarding basic facts about the oil spill as well as photographs of clean-up efforts.
Curated OER
Gulf Oil Spill:What Happened, and Who is Responsible?
Students investigate the Gulf Oil Spill. In this environmental issues lesson, students watch video clips about the oil spill and discuss the devastation caused by the spill as well as who is responsible. Students also consider how many...
National Geographic
Sea Turtles and the Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill
There are seven species of sea turtles, five of which live in the Gulf of Mexico. Young scientists learn about each and then examine the impact of the Deepwater Horizon (BP) oil spill on the populations. A video, Internet links to sea...
Curated OER
Global Oil Busters!
Students design and implement an investigation of the impact of oil spills on the environment. They then identify and compare different methods in cleaning up oil spills. Students write letters to the Governor about why the material they...
Curated OER
How to Clean Up An Oil Spill
Students practice cleaning up an oil spill. In this good citizenship lesson, students experiment with different cleaning agents to see which ones clean oil off a soft toy. They compare this experiment with the volunteers helping with the...
Curated OER
Oil Spill
In this reading comprehension worksheet, students read a 7-paragraph article about the 2010 Gulf Oil Spill and respond to 5 short answer questions. Vocabulary words and definitions are included.
Curated OER
The Drill on the Spill: Learning About the Gulf Oil Leak in the Lab
Young scholars research the Gulf of Mexico oil spill and complete experiments to study the effects of oil spills. In this oil spill lesson, students read the NY Times feature on the gulf oil spill. Young scholars visit various links to...
Curated OER
The Gulf Oil Spill Provides Many Learning Opportunities
You can use math and engineering lesson plans to delve into the affects of the recent oil spill.
Curated OER
Oil Spill Lesson Plans
With the recent oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, now is a great time to educate students on issues related to oil.
Curated OER
Oil Spill
Students examine the implications of the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil disaster. In this oil spill lesson, students research details regarding the BP oil leak and then participate in a simulation that requires them to role play those whose...
Curated OER
Cartoons for the Classroom: Oil Spill Perspectives
For this current events worksheet, learners analyze a political cartoon about the BP oil spill and respond to 3 talking point questions.
National Geographic
Oil and Bird Populations
Display a stunning drawing of the Gulf of Mexico's ecosystems. Learners examine the picture to determine what birds live there and what foods they rely on. Then show a poignant five-minute film that examines the impact of the 2010...
Curated OER
Density Lessons and the Oil Spill
Teachers can use the oil spill cleanup efforts as a springboard to discussions and activities related to density!
National Geographic
Birds, Feathers, and Oil
Point out the Gulf of Mexico and tell your class about the 2010 oil spill. Give each emerging ecologist a large bird feather. Have them make observations about it and then predict what would happen if it were to be placed in oil. Have...
Curated OER
Cartoons for the Classroom: Safety vs. Energy
Political cartoons are a poignant way to examine energy sources. This analysis handout has scholars examining a cartoon by Joe Heller (a link to his gallery is included for possible extensions). Background information reminds pupils of...
Curated OER
Pelicans in Peril
In this Gulf oil spill worksheet, students examine an article regarding the brown pelican and the effects of the oil spill as well as a photograph.
NOAA
Biological Oceanographic Investigations – Signals from the Deep
The Deepwater Horizon oil spill directly impacted an area of the Gulf of Mexico the size of Oklahoma. A marine biology lesson plan looks at the impact of an oil spill on the deeper parts of the ocean. Scholars download actual data...
Curated OER
Environmental Justice
Students explore the concept of environmental stewardship. In this Gulf Oil Spill lesson, students discuss how environmental pollution affects those how live in poverty at a higher rate than those with more affluence. Students read...