The Science of Oil Spills

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The Science of Oil Spills curriculum is based on the Ocean Science and Leadership Expedition, co-sponsored by the council in 2010.

Nine high school students from around the country completed the a summer intensive course based in Cordova and Valdez and led by staff from the Prince William Sound Science Center. From August 5-14, the students studied principles of oceanography and marine environmental issues, especially focusing on oil spills, and developed leadership skills in a wilderness learning environment.

Read more about the expedition in an article from the September 2010 issue of The Observer: Students study oceanography and oil spills in Sound.

The curriculum was created by Alice Dou-Wang of the Prince William Sound Science Center.

The Science of Oil Spills:

Overview (pdf/39kb) and Table of Contents (pdf/69kb)
Grades: 6-12
Prerequisites: Before beginning this unit, students should have basic knowledge of convection, density, and waves.

Lessons in this unit: The lessons are designed to be completed in sequence, although most lessons can also stand alone.

Lesson 1: The Fate of Spilled Oil (pdf/68kb)- A lecture provides students with in-depth information about how spilled oil behaves in the environment, and the physical processes of weathering.

Lesson 2: Oil Spill Response Methods (pdf/65kb) - An overview of the common types of oil spill response equipment, how they work to clean up oil, and basic cleanup strategies for shorelines and open water.

Supporting materials:
Oil Spill Response Equipment slideshow (pdf/4.41mb)

Lesson 3: Oil Spill Cleanup Lab (pdf/58kb) - Students make a motor oil emulsion, compare different factions of spilled oil and their effects on natural materials, and experiment with different oil cleanup methods.

Lesson 4: Incident Command System Scenario (pdf/45kb) - Students play roles in the Incident Command System and decide how to respond to a mock oil spill scenario in Prince William Sound.
Prerequisites: This lesson will be most effective if students have an understanding of air-sea interactions and general circulation patterns in Prince William Sound. They should also have basic knowledge of convection, density, waves, and Coriolis effect.

Supporting materials:
Incident Command System Roles (pdf/19kb)
Oil Spill Scenario Updates (pdf/23kb)
Incident Command System Background for Teachers (pdf/29kb)
Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) Maps Background for Teachers (pdf/156kb)

Download the complete curriculum: The Science of Oil Spills (pdf/4.71mb)

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