Oil Spill Simulation (view)

Units included with this Open Author resource:

Jaime Hitz
Alignment:
PA.Math.CC.2.1.4.B.2, PA.SCI.3.3.12.A8, PA.SCI.3.3.B.A8, PA.SCI.3.3.PK.A7
Teacher Resource
Keywords:
PASTEM, Oil Spill, Oil Spill and Wildlife, Budget, Subtract, Environment
Alignment:
CCSS.Math.Content.4.NBT.B.4, NGSS.3.5.ETS1.1
Activity Sheet
Scaffolded Activity Guide
Building Background Knowledge Videos

Summary

Students will have the opportunity to work in groups and investigate the effects of an “oil spill” in a water body. In a simulated “ocean” (a pan of water), students will drop a small amount of oil into the water and see the effects and interaction. In an introduction to the workshop, students discuss sources of pollution and oil contamination in water bodies – from point sources (tanker spills) and non-point sources (vehicle run-off). A brief discussion on preventing and cleaning up oil contamination will lead into the activity, in which the students will use a variety of materials to see what method works best for recovering the most oil from the water. Students will develop a proposal explaining which materials and procedures work best for cleaning up an oil spill. Students will also create a presentation to share their proposal.