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
How Big is an Oil Tanker
Learners measure out 100 feet to get an idea of how long an oil tanker is. In this measurement lesson, students sketch an oil tanker using the appropriate scale, after they have an idea of how large an actual oil tanker is.
Curated OER
The Great Hungarian Toxic Disaster
Ninth graders examine the the toxic spill in Hungary. In this Hungarian lesson plan, 9th graders read an article and answer guided questions. Students write an email to their teacher explaining the causes and effects of the Toxic disaster.
Curated OER
How Microbes Help Ecosystems
Sixth graders observe different microorganisms under the microscope. In this biology lesson, 6th graders draw and describe the samples they see. They study the root nodules of plants and explain how the plants benefit from those bacteria.
Curated OER
Interdependency
In this interdependency worksheet, middle schoolers respond to 6 short answer questions about water resource sharing after they read assigned textbook pages.
Curated OER
The Significance of Labor Day
Labor Day provides a way to introduce students to the issues of the labor movement.
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...
National Geographic
National Geographic: Sea Turtles and the Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill
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...
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...
National Wildlife Federation
National Wildlife Federation: The Big Oil Spill
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.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Earth Science: Oil Spills
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Examines the Gulf of Mexico oil spill and its impact.
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...
Other
Oil price.net: Gulf Oil Spill: The Aftermath
Comments on the Gulf Oil Spill provide author's thoughts on the chemical dispersants being used. Are these dispersants helping? Do they cause more of a threat than the oil itself? What will the impact be on human and wildlife? Also,...
Choices Program, Brown University
Choices: Teaching With the News: The Gulf Oil Disaster
Multi-media lesson plan includes a video, PowerPoint, and handouts from which students explore the issues raised by the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil disaster and interpret political cartoons and the cartoonist's message.
Other
Cynthia Cudaback: Self Contained Gulf Oil Spill Kit [Pdf]
Here is a kit that you can create to help understand the impact of an oil spill and the logistics of the clean-up effort. Unfortunately, real-life oil spills are not quite as easy to clean up.
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...
Science Daily
Science Daily: Caution Required for Gulf Oil Spill Clean Up
A bioremediation expert cautions against the concentration of detergents and other chemicals used to clean up oil spills. The clean-up can be a nightmare of its own when toxic agents are used.
PBS
Pbs News Hour Extra: Largest Oil Spill in u.s. History Continues
The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has surpassed the 1989 Exxon Valdez disaster. Briefly discussed is criticism of the Obama administration for not acting quickly enough. Described are the efforts by BP oil to stop the oil leak, effects...
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
National Geographic
National Geographic: Oil and Bird Populations
After learning about the diversity of wildlife in the Gulf of Mexico, students focus on birds and their patterns of behavior. They then how an oil spill might affect migrating birds, and possible ways to help them in the event of an oil...
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.
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.