Disaster in the Gulf

Creator: Natural Resources Defense Council | visit site

Grade Range: 6 - 11

Go below the surface of the ocean to identify and understand the problem of the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Use this resource to bring home the fact that only a small amount of oil stays on the surface. Click on the question marks to find information about where the oil has gone and how organisms are affected. Be sure to scroll up and down in the image as there is a lot of information there. Find additional fact sheets, news accounts, and footage of the oil spill disaster and its effects.

In the Classroom

Have students view the interactive image to obtain basic information. Share the site on your projector or interactive whiteboard. Share information learned from the site with others in class and discuss important points learned. Conduct additional research into effects of oil and the food chain(s) that are being affected. Determine the different types of populations of people affected as well by the disaster and write editorial letters of their viewpoint. Create a conventional or multimedia project that showcases students being these animals or people. Create a <a href="http://www.teachersfirst.com/single.cfm?id=14414">UtellStory,</a&gt; or <a href="http://www.teachersfirst.com/single.cfm?id=10113">Voki</a&gt; to share your information. Student groups can research additional information about specific organisms or problems to report back to the class.

At Home

Is your student fascinated or disturbed about the headlines? Find more information in this interactive to better understand the overall problem.

Tags

mexico, oil, oil spill,

Subjects

Geography (US/World), Social Studies, Social Studies,