Oil Spill

After learning how DDT affected the Peregrine Falcon, we read an article from Time for Kids magazine about birds that were injured from flying into buildings, some were hit by cars when they were picking up food, and others were simply too fat to fly from hanging out under the hot dog carts in big cities. This brought about some major giggles! I explained that the birds had also gotten grease on their wings from the carts, and couldn't stretch their wings to fly.

The next day I asked students to reflect on the animals we had talked about and consider other ways animals and their habitats were impacted.

Wow, what an amazing list students came up with:

tornadoes, extreme temperatures (they were thinking back to our story of the Monarch Butterflies), logging, poison: DDT (thinking about the Falcons), people building homes and clearing land, fires, strong winds, drought, heat, storms and falling trees (we read about this when we learned about the Beavers), hot dog carts, cars, and predators.

I sat students down and explained that we would begin talking about the BP Oil Spill that happened in Louisiana. I wanted to prepare students that we would learn some startling facts, but we would also focus on the determination by many individuals to save the animals and make a difference.

Students learned on April 20, 2010 the Deepwater Horizon Oil Rig exploded in the Gulf of Mexico killing 11 workers. This was the beginning of many months of oil leaking into the ocean. They learned in Mid-July BP tried to stop the oil, but it was only temporary. Then I heard, "How many days was that?" Great question I said!

So we counted the total number of days using a calendar and found that oil leaked for 87 days. Then they learned the well was successfully closed on September the 19th. I heard again, "Wow-now how many days?" Again, Great Question! So we kept counting and learned that after 140 days, the pumps were officially stopped. Then I heard: "How much oil leaked? Wow, think of what that did to the animals?"

This has to be one of my favorite moments as a Teacher. Everything you have been teaching them, all the books and articles we have been reading, all the things we have talked about up to that moment, all of that came together and connected. The questions and comments I heard were simply amazing! I really got chills!

They learned that approximately 250 gallons of oil leaked into the Gulf. Then a student asked, "How much is that?" As students got out their snacks, I went to the sink and filled a gallon container with water and passed that around. I told them to imagine 250 of those filled with oil that were then dumped into the water. Jeremiah reminded us that milk comes in a gallon container. (I love it when they make connections)

After converting gallons to ounces, and showing them a 16 ounce bottle of Diet Coke, we calculated that it equaled 32,000 ounces of oil. I then introduced students to the Dawn website. I reminded students to think about the scientist and what they did to help the Falcons. I told students they would learn about some amazing things that were done to help other animals.

Students worked with a partner to share what they had learned and discuss what had happened. You can see in the picture below what Kellan wrote in her notebook. She and Kole worked together to compare what they remembered and respond in writing.

Go to: http://www.dawnsaveswildlife.com/ to learn more about the animals that have been helped.
This week we will see firsthand the impact of oil when we have an Oil Pollution Experiment. Check back for pictures-