+
Interactive
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: What Happens When an Oil Spill Occurs?

For Students 9th - 10th
This interactive activity from McDougal Littell/TERC visualizes the effects of the Exxon Valdez oil spill, factors that influence oil spill behavior and impact, and techniques used to contain and clean up oil spills at sea.
+
Lesson Plan
TryEngineering

Try Engineering: Oil Spill Solutions

For Teachers 9th - 10th
In a lesson to teach students about the field of environmental engineering, they examine an oil spill, then design a system to contain the oil and extract it from the water.
+
Activity
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Goo Be Gone: Cleaning Up Oil Spills

For Students 9th - 10th
Oil spills devastate wildlife and our precious water resources. Test the absorptivity of different materials (sorbents) to discover which ones are best at removing oil from water in this brief lab.
+
Unit Plan
TES Global

Blendspace: Questioning Nonfiction Text Oil Spills

For Students 6th - 8th Standards
An eight-part learning module with links to texts, videos, and websites to use while improving informational text skills through the topic of oil spills. The print materials have directed exercises for text analysis by students.
+
Website
NOAA

Noaa: Oil Spill Resources

For Students 9th - 10th
An excellent collection of resources and activities for exploring oil spills and chemical disasters.
+
Unit Plan
Other

Australian Maritime Safety Authority: Mathematics and Oil Spills

For Students 9th - 10th
The numbers related to an oil spill that are reported in the media can be quite confusing to the public. This lesson helps students understand the numerical terms used to describe an oil spill. They are asked to solve three problems...
+
Lesson Plan
Other

Prince Wm. Sound Rcac: Alaska Oil Spill Curriculum [Pdf]

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st
This is an extensive 333-page resource of lesson ideas for all grade levels. The lessons are attractively presented and the appendices contain extensive lists of additional resources, as well as articles and puzzles. The curriculum...
+
Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Oil Spill Cleanup

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
This hands-on experiment will provide students with an understanding of the issues that surround environmental cleanup. Students will create their own oil spill, try different methods for cleaning it up, and then discuss the merits of...
+
Lesson Plan
NOAA

Noaa: Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary: Oil Spills Effect on Marine Sanctuary

For Teachers 9th - 10th
In this investigation students will examine how an oil spill affects Sanctuary resources, and participate in a mock public meeting to mobilize people and resources to protect the sanctuary.
+
Activity
National Geographic

National Geographic: Simulate an Oil Spill Cleanup

For Teachers 9th - 10th
After researching the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010, students do an experiment where they simulate an oil spill. They then simulate a cleanup using dispersant, and observe what happens before and after the...
+
Activity
National Geographic

National Geographic: Sea Turtles and the Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill

For Teachers 4th - 8th
After researching and comparing five species of sea turtles, students look at how they were affected by the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. Then they learn about efforts to relocate wildlife after an environmental disaster such as this, and...
+
Website
National Wildlife Federation

National Wildlife Federation: The Big Oil Spill

For Students 3rd - 8th
Ranger Rick "spills" all about the large oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Find out what happened, why people are worried, what happens to the animals, and what can happen to people.
+
Unit Plan
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Earth Science: Oil Spills

For Students 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Examines the Gulf of Mexico oil spill and its impact.
+
Unit Plan
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Earth Science: Oil Spills

For Students 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Describes how oil spills occur and how they can be cleaned up.
+
Handout
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Earth Science: Oil Spills Study Guide

For Students 9th - 10th
Get the main facts about oil spills.
+
Website
Virginia Institute of Marine Science

Virginia Institute of Marine Science: Oil Spills

For Students 9th - 10th
A collection of lessons for teaching students about oil spills.
+
Activity
Other

Australian Maritime Safety Authority: Experiment to Clean Up an Oil Spill

For Students 9th - 10th
For this activity, students conduct an experiment to investigate how difficult it is to clean up an oil spill. There is a comprehensive list of observation questions for students to respond to.
+
Lesson Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Oil Spill

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
This lesson plan will allow students to explore an important role of environmental engineers: cleaning the environment. Students will learn details about the Exxon Valdez oil spill, which was one of the most publicized and studied...
+
Lesson Plan
Discovery Education

Discovery Education: Science of Everyday Life: Oil Spill Clean Up [Pdf]

For Teachers K - 1st
In this lesson plan students experiment with cleaning up an oil spill. This lesson begins with students learning about the effects of oil spills on the natural environment. Then students will explore the most effective way to clean up an...
+
Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Investigate Effects of an Oil Spill

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
This lab is designed so that students will understand the effects of oil spills on plants, animals, and the environment and investigate clean up methods through a simulated oil spill. They will understand the risks associated with...
+
Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Exploring Effects of Oil Spills on Birds

For Teachers K - 1st
To learn about the devastating effects of oil spills, students use magnifying lenses to examine feathers, and name and describe characteristics of the feathers.
+
Article
Yale University

Yale Environment 360: The Oil Spill's Growing Toll on the Sea Life of the Gulf

For Students 9th - 10th
Marine biologist Thomas Shirley explains the impact of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill in the short and long term. The total impact is hard to determine at this point of time, however. Shirley gives his best opinion of the damage that...
+
Handout
NOAA

Noaa: Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
This site provides information about the impacts of the oil spill, the injury and recovery of fish, wildlife and people of the spill region, and information about ongoing restoration and research activities. Has a great link to other...
+
Handout
Other

Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council: Questions and Answers

For Students 9th - 10th
Use this site to learn all about the Exxon Valdez oil spill in this easy to read, detailed, question/answer format. The links on the left hand side will take you to pictures, maps, lingering impacts and lots more.

Other popular searches