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Notes for Teachers

Context: This lesson takes place in a classroom or outdoors for 60 - 90 minutes.
Students may work in small groups of 2-4.
An emphasis on how oil adversely affects animals.
Encourage students to collaborate and brainstorm ideas.
Facilitate student reflection on the effects such a clean up can cause.

List of Materials

Motor oil
Small containers
Rubber gloves
Cooking oil
Water
Three types of detergent
Mild hand soap
Powered Laundry detergent
Feathers (craft or real)
Leather (faux or real)
Fur (faux or real)
Hand lens or microscopes
Paper and pencil
Newspapers
Oil absorbent pads
Funnel

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Arizona Standards

Life Science:

5.L4U3.11 Obtain, evaluate, and communicate evidence about how natural and human-caused changes to habitats or climate can impact populations.

5.L3U1.10 Construct an explanation based on evidence that the changes in an environment can affect the development of the traits in a population of organisms.

Science and Engineering Practices:

ask questions and define problems
plan and carry out investigations
analyze and interpret data
construct explanations and design solutions
engage in argument from evidence
obtain, evaluate and communicate information

History & Social Science:

5.G2.1 Describe how natural and human-caused changes to habitats or climate can impact our world.

5.RI.3 Explain the relationships or interactions between two or more individuals, events, ideas, or concepts in a historical, scientific, or technical text, based on specific information in the text.

ELA:

5.W.7 Conduct short research projects that use several sources to build knowledge through investigation of different aspects of a topic and to answer a specific question.

5.SL.1 Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 4 topics and texts, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly.

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Objective(s):

I will identify ways oil spills can adversely affect animals.

I will experiment with ways to clean oiled animals.

I will collaborate and communicate effectively with my peers to problem solve.

I will describe how natural and human-caused changes to habitats or climate can impact our world.

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Agenda (60-90 minutes)

Introduce the lesson. What is oil? What impact can an oil spill have on the environment, specifically animals and their habitats?

Saving Animals from Oil Spills (Rescuing Animals from Disasters) by Stephen Person

Experiment ways to clean animals.

Share findings with peers.

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Intro

What are some things that come to mind when you think of oil?

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Read Aloud

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Hands-on Activity Instructions

2-4 students in a group
Place bowls of detergent, soap and water on tables covered with newspapers.
Place leather, feathers and fur on tables.
Bowls of motor oil and cooking oil should be placed on the table.
Students will dip the fur, feathers and leather in one or both of the oils and then try to clean them with the various soaps and detergents.
Students will use the hand lens/microscope to view what they see.
Students will sketch what they see.
They will determine which, if any, cleaning agent was effective and discuss end result with their peers.
Conversations should be had regarding the effects of oil on the animals and subsequently their habitats.
They can brainstorm the impact of the cleaning on the animals (stress, loss of waterproofing, injury, disease, etc).

Some possible questions to ask:

Is attempting to clean a heavily soiled animal the best option? Why or why not?
What are some factors that need to be taken into consideration when deciding the best action for animals in oil spills?
How might different groups of people help in such situations (veterinarians, marine biologists, animal rescues, etc)?
What responsibilities should those involved in the oil spill take in the cleanup effort of the animals their habitats?

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Assessment

Students/groups will present their observations and ideas to the class.
Students will form opinions and provide reasoning for the risks and benefits of cleaning animals.
Students will respond to and respectfully disagree with their classmates.

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Differentiation

One way to differentiate in this lesson is to provide some groups with a step-by-step outline for completing the experiment.

Another option is to eliminate some of the cleaning agents.

Remediation

Extension/Enrichment

One way to extend or enrich this activity is to have the students create a poster informing the public of the risks that oil spills can have on animals and their habitats.

Another option is to have the students extend what they have learned and research the impact of oil spills on people and the environment.