Oil Spill

Photo Credit: National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration (NOAA)

On April 20, 2010, an explosion on the Deepwater Horizon oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico resulted in the largest offshore oil spill to date. Young people are asking their teachers and parents difficult questions about the causes and effects of the spill, and many schools have opted to focus on the Gulf Oil Spill as a unifying interdisciplinary theme to explore throughout the 2010-2011 school year. The resources and curricula provided here offer students and educators an opportunity to explore the effects of oil spills on people, wildlife and ecosystems, investigate clean up strategies and reflect on ways to prevent future environmental catastrophes of this scale.

• Oil Spill Resources This collection of online resources -- including websites, articles, visuals and much more -- provide educators and students with facts and information about oil spills and the Gulf Oil Spill in particular. EE Week's Oil Spill Resources provide objective, science-based materials to help educators, parents and students understand the situation in the Gulf.  
• Oil Spill Curricula The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico provides an opportunity to teach across disciplines and focus on a topic of current interest and extraordinary importance. Many educators are interested in teaching about the Gulf Oil Spill, but do not know where to begin. EE Week provides a list of K-12 lesson plans aligned with content standards for a variety of subjects and organized by grade level. 
• Educator Webinar: Teaching About the Gulf Oil Spill, Wednesday, February 23, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. EST

  Have an idea for an additional Oil Spill resource? Share it with us.