Practical Application

This experiment allows students to understand the importance of taking precautions to prevent oil spills. Each student will have practice with the scientific process, including documenting and interpreting data.

Objectives

1. Incorporate the process of inquiry-based learning into a traditional direct instruction classroom setting.
2. Students will be able to use multiple means to find answers to their questions, including but not limited to participating in the inquiry experience, reading information from primary and secondary sources, watching videos, and talking with more knowledgeable individuals in their community.
3. Students will be able to identify ways humans use oil to sustain their way of life.
4. Students will be able to identify problems that occur after an oil spill.
5. Students will be able to collect data answering their comparative questions.
6. Students will be able to present scientific data as well as journal their process.
7. Students will be able to uncover additional questions and think critically about the data found.

Educational Standards

Scientific Inquiry, Practices and Applications

• Apply knowledge of science content to real-world challenges.

• Plan and conduct simple scientific investigations using appropriate safety techniques based on explorations, observations and questions.

• Employ simple equipment and tools to gather data and extend the senses.

• Use data and mathematical thinking to construct reasonable explanations.

• Communicate with others about investigations and data.

• The world is discovered through exploration.

• Exploration leads to observation. Observation leads to questions.

2.LS.1: Living things cause changes on Earth.

3.ESS.1: Earth’s nonliving resources have specific properties.

3.ESS. 2: Earth’s resources can be used for energy.

4.LS.1: Changes in an organism’s environment are sometimes beneficial to its survival and sometimes harmful.

5.LS.1: Organisms perform a variety of roles in an ecosystem.