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Notes for teachers

This lesson takes place in a classroom for one or more hours
Students may work in small groups of 2.
An emphasis on the target product (a spill diagram).
Creative solutions should be encouraged.
Facilitate student reflection on why and how oil spills affect ocean life.

List of Materials:

Oil Spill Diagram:

1 clear tray
5 rocks
5 foam pieces
1 nylon cord
1 baster
1 spoon
cardboard to absorb oil
feathers
“Crude Oil Mix” Cocoa mix
Oil dispersant - dish soap
1 beaker
1 scrub brush
plastic ocean animals
sea shells

Oil Spill! by Melvin Berger (read aloud)
Additional Resources:

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Kindergarten Science Standards

Life Science Standards

Students develop an understanding that the world is comprised of living and non-living things. They investigate the relationship between structure and function in living things; plants and animals use specialized parts to help them meet their needs and survive.

K.L1U1.6

Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information

about how organisms use different body parts for

survival.

K.L1U1.7

Observe, ask questions, and explain how

specialized structures found on a variety of plants

and animals (including humans) help them sense

and respond to their environment.

K.L2U1.8

Observe, ask questions, and explain the

differences between the characteristics of living

and non-living things.

Kindergarten ELA Standards

Speaking and Listening Standards Comprehension and Collaboration

K.SL.1 Participate in collaborative conversations with diverse partners about kindergarten topics and texts with peers and adults in small and larger groups. a. Follow agreed-upon rules for discussions (e.g., listening to others, taking turns speaking about the topics and texts under discussion). b. Continue a conversation through multiple exchanges.

K.SL.2 Confirm understanding of a text read aloud or information presented orally or through other media by asking and answering questions about key details and requesting clarification if something is not understood.

K.SL.3 Ask and answer questions in order to seek help, get information, or clarify something that is not understood. Presentation of Knowledge and Ideas

.SL.4 Describe familiar people, places, things, and events and, with prompting and support, provide additional detail.

K.SL.5 Add drawings or other visual displays to descriptions as desired to provide additional detail.

K.SL.6 Speak audibly and express thoughts, feelings, and ideas clearly.

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Objectives: Image from Google Images

Today we learn about the cause and effect of oil spills.

Today we develop a display to model an oil spill and reflect on how to resolve ways to clean oil spills.

Today students will mock an oil-spill clean up by testing various clean up methods.

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Agenda (60 minutes)

What is an oil spill?

Can you think of methods to help ocean life after an oil spill?

What method removed the most oil? (Using K-W-L chart to navigate question probes)

Oil Spill! by Melvin Berger (read aloud)

Engineer a mock oil spill and test methods for cleaning up.

Share or present

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Intro/Driving Question/Opening

Did you know that oil spills do occur in our oceans? We will read our story to see how oil spills can impact ocean life. If you had to help during an oil spill, have you ever thought about the best ways to help ocean life? Today you be given the chance to test different methods for helping ocean life in a mock oil spill.

Oil spills are not good for the environment and after seeing the effect of ocean life, we can possibly discuss ways to limit oil spills in the future or how our world can use other sources besides oil.

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Hands-on Activity Instructions

Group Size 2 to 3 students
Students will build a model ocean and mock an oil spill from a boom.
The students will develop a few methods for clean up and test their methods on oil spill model.
Kindergarten students will test each method.
Kindergarten students will journal which method worked for their oil spill on ocean life.
Students will present information.

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Testing methods

Recording data

student is writing that method 1 did not work. :(

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Why are oil spills harmful?

Source: https://littlebinsforlittlehands.com/oil-spill-experiment/

Oil spills are harmful to ocean life. Oil coats the feathers and fur of marine life, leaving them susceptible to hypothermia (being too cold) because their fur or feathers cannot protect them from the weather.

Additionally, an oil spill can contaminate the food supply or food chain. Marine mammals that eat fish or other food exposed to an oil spill may be poisoned by oil.

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Assessment

Kindergarten students tested their methods.

Kindergarten students gave and seeked feedback

Kindergarten students documented their findings using a K-W-L chart

Kindergarten students final goal/task was met within the requirements and stay within constraints

ELA Assessment

How is what you are doing similar to what the story of Oil Spill?

How is it different?

Describe in detail how we meet our goal for cleaning an oil spill.

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Differentiation

One way to differentiate in this lesson is to provide some groups a template or completed model pieces to assemble. This can help students who are struggling with design.
Another option would be to provide step by step visuals to help with planning.

Remediation

Extension/Enrichment

An extension activity would be to examine how oil spills affect air quality or plant life OR ways to prevent an oil spill.