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.
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.
Lesson Plan
NOAA

Noaa: Oil Slick Emergency

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Using software tools downloaded from this site, students will learn about strategies used to respond to an oil spill. The site recommends that teachers spend some time learning how to use the software themselves as the instructions in...
Lesson Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Oil Spill

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
This lesson 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...
Handout
University of California

Uc Santa Barbara: 1969 Oil Spill Articles and Images

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from UC Santa Barbara provides details about the 1969 oil spill off the coast of California which marred 35 miles of coastline. Information is provided about the ecological impact of the spill as well as info on the clean-up...
Lesson Plan
Better Lesson

Better Lesson: Can We Clean the Sea?

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Oil spills are real disasters that plague our oceans every day. This lesson will offer students a chance to work in teams to develop possible solutions to ways to clean up oil spills.
Lesson Plan
Gulf of Maine Research Institute

Human Impact: Save the Bay

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Learners watch as their teacher simulates an oil spill. Following the demonstration, groups of students race to figure out the best way to clean up the spill before it reaches land. Learners then discuss their observations.