Hands-On+Activity

 **Social Studies in the Elementary School: Hands-on Activity ** **Student Name: **Matt Himmelberger  **Activity Topic: **Oil Spills and Their Effects on the Environment and Ecosystems  **Grade Level **: 4-5  ** NCSS Standards: **Global Connections; People, Places and Environment

 ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Essential Question: **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">What effect does an oil spill have on the surrounding ecosystems and environments?
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Materials: **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> large plastic bowl, food coloring, vegetable oil, string, feathers, plastic measuring cup (1-cup size)


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Learning objective: **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> Using oil and water, students will investigate how oil spills spread. Once students have determined how oil spreads through water (wind and waves), they will dip the supplied feathers into the oil and water mixture. This will help them realize how birds are affected by oil spills and how their feathers react to the oil. Through this hands-on activity, students will learn how the environment and different ecosystems are affected by oil spills and the ways in which oil is easily spread once it is spilled.

<span style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">1. Each group member will be given an item necessary for the activity (bowl, water, food coloring, feathers, measuring cup). <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> <span style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> <span style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">2. Oil spills will be explained and the learning objective will be identified so students understand what they will be learning about, as well as how they will be learning about it. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> <span style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> <span style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">3. Water will be poured into the bowl. This is to represent the ocean. The teacher can discuss the ocean and different properties of it. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> <span style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> <span style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">4. The student that has the oil will then pour a small amount of oil into the measuring cup. Food coloring can be added to the oil so it is easier to see. Once food coloring has been added, the students can pour the oil into the water. Observe the results. This oil will represent the oil that has been spilled by a tanker, oil leak, etc. Students can identify ways in which they have heard oil is spilled. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> <span style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">5. Using the string provided, students will make a small loop to place around the oil. This signifies a way to contain the oil and keep it from spreading. Record observations. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> <span style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">6. With the string still in place, students can lightly blow on the oil to see if that helps the oil spread. This action represents the wind and breezes that occur naturally in the wild and the results they can have on an oil spill. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> <span style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">7. Next, the bowl can be lightly shaken or vibrated to create waves. This represents yet another way oil can be spread in an open ocean oil spill. This section shows how oil spills occur and how they spread. The teacher and students can discuss the impact oil spills have on the environment and shorelines surrounding them. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> <span style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">8. Now students can each take a feather and dip it into the oil and water. They should touch, feel, and observe what happens to the feather. Does the oil come off the feather easily? This allows students to experience what happens to a seabird when an oil spill occurs. Discuss with the students how the oil affects the bird and what might happen as a result of it. What other kinds of impacts does an oil spill have on different animals? <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> Following the group activity, students will complete the following online quiz to further their knowledge about oil spills and how they affect the environment. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Quiz Link: http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/energy/great-energy-challenge/oil-spill-quiz/
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Activity Description: **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Assessmen **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">t: