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 instructional activity looks at the impact of an oil spill on the deeper parts of the ocean. Scholars download actual...
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
The Drill on the Spill: Learning About the Gulf Oil Leak in the Lab
Students 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. Students visit various links to research the...
Curated OER
The Gulf Oil Spill in the Classroom
Students 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 personal...
Curated OER
Gulf Oil Spill Fill-In
In 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
An Exploration of Global Oil Spill Disasters
In this oil spills worksheet, learners write facts about the research they find about the oil spills asked. Students complete answers for 20 oil spills.
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
Oil + Water + Wildlife = A Real Mess
Students conduct an experiment. In this environmental protection lesson, students explore how oil spills affect living organisms in an ecosystem. Students work in groups to complete a lab activity and then discuss their findings.
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...
Illustrative Mathematics
Crude Oil and Gas Mileage
Here is an activity that presents a real-world problem about the relationship between crude oil production and the gas mileage of modern automobiles. After learners write functions to describe the relationships, they are asked to...
National Geographic
Rescuing, Relocating, and Rehabilitating Wildlife
Bring up the Deepwater Horizon (BP) oil spill that occurred in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010. Display the colorful diagram of the coastal and marine organisms living in the area. Show a video about relocating the eggs of the Gulf's sea...
Curated OER
What's the Connection to Me?
Students discuss the impact of oil spill to the environment and to their daily lives. For this environmental science lesson, students research the pros and cons of petroleum based products. They share their findings in class.
Curated OER
Telling Our Stories of Giving - Writing to Persuade
After identifying the parts of a persuasive piece of writing, young writers explore different prewriting activities for the persuasive essay. They have the option to write a news article, personal narrative, or persuasive essay to...
Encyclopedia of Earth
Encyclopedia of Earth: Ocean Oil: Deepwater Horizon Disaster
A collection of articles on the Deepwater Horizon oil spill that happened on April 20, 2010. It was caused by an offshore explosion on an oil platform fifty miles southeast of the Mississippi River delta.
National Geographic
National Geographic: Simulate an Oil Spill Cleanup
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...
Encyclopedia of Earth
Encyclopedia of Earth: Ocean Oil: Offshore Petroleum
A collection of articles on offshore oil. Some of the topics covered include the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, oil exploration and oil reserves, oil drilling, and the history of oil and gas.
PBS
Pbs News Hour Extra: Capping and Cleaning Up the Oil Spill
Lesson plan promotes discussion of possible solutions to end the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Students are encouraged to give the point of view of an "interested party." 8/2010
Yale University
Yale Environment 360: The Oil Spill's Growing Toll on the Sea Life of the Gulf
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...
NOAA
Noaa: Gulf Oil Spill Educational Resources
NOAA provides educational resources regarding the Gulf of Mexico oil spill such as imagery, animations, videos, lessons, activities, real world data, trajectory maps, and background information. Lessons such as Cleaning Oiled Feathers...
PBS
Pbs News Hour Extra: Gulf Oil Spill Could Be Most Damaging in History
Discussed is the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, the attempts to clean up the oil, animals and industries threatened, policies questioned and a comparison made to the Exxon Valdez oil spill. Includes instructional resources. (4 May...
BBC
Bbc: Bp Oil Disaster
Up to the minute news on the disastrous Gulf of Mexico oil spill of 2010. The BBC reports on the impact on the environment and provides an interactive guide to stopping the leak itself. In addition, find maps that clearly define the...
US Environmental Protection Agency
Epa: Epa Response to Bp Spill in the Gulf of Mexico
Get the facts about what the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is doing in response to the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
BBC
Bbc News: What Is a 'Top Kill'?
As the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico officially becomes America's largest oil disaster, a major procedure, known as 'top kill', is being tried to stop the flow of oil. Details of the procedure, graphics, and video clips are included.
NOAA
Noaa: Estuaries 101 Curriculum: Oil Spill the Rest of the Story
Watch this report on the BP oil spill of 2010, one of the most devastating oil spills in the history of the United States. Learn about not only the effects of a point source pollution event like the oil spill, but also about the many...