Earlier today, I saw a news broadcast of an underwater video of the oily Gulf of Mexico. Seeing this, on day 81 of the disaster, made me think really hard for the first time since the first week of the spill. How significantly has this already affected wildlife and how will it continue to affect wildlife? Just how much will this disaster affect society and the generations to come?
Although this is a morbid disaster, children need to be aware of its impact on communities. The oil spill provides great fodder for integrating social studies with science (particularly environmental and health sciences) and math. A few essential and other questions I thought of to begin thinking about teaching this topic include:
1. How has this oil spill already affected marine and other wildlife? How many millions of fish have been killed (math)? How many more fish and other animals will be killed?
2. How does this affect society as a whole in areas where the oil has travelled?
3. How does this disaster affect marine sports, fishing, boating, and other aspects of coastal culture?
4. Does the oil spill affect inland states? If so, how?
5. How does this affect our health? Will we still be able to eat fresh seafood? Will our drinking water still be safe?
6. What long-term environmental and health affects do you think this spill will have on our Earth?
The New York Times' Education page features a section on "The Gulf Oil Spill in the Classroom." This page includes several ideas for lesson plan ideas on the oil spill. You can visit the page at http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/05/28/the-gulf-oil-spill-in-the-classroom/
Photo found at http://ootp.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/louisiana-oil-spill_100406.png
Good stuff and certainly a continued "current event" months later!
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