Class: Grade 6 Technology Studies

Teacher: Lauren McNeil

Unit: Responding to Environmental Problems
Lesson Topic: Oil spill cleanup simulation
Time: 50 minutes each
Curriculum Expectations:

Planning:

Learning Targets:
1. Students will be introduced to the catastrophic damage that is spurred from oil spills.
Although oil spills are rare, they make up 30 % of the oceans pollution.
2. Students will learn about the various engineering techniques employed to clean oil spills
effectively.
MTSE Outcomes: 1.4 Students will communicate information and ideas using a variety of
multimedia, 2.3 Students will work in teams to solve problems, 2.4 Students will investigate and
demonstrate the relationship between technology and society, 4.6.01 understand and apply
problem solving strategies,

-prepare materials for

the simulation: pie
plates, oil, cotton,
food colouring,
straws, sponges,
nylon, and
newspapers

A. Introduction to oil spills (10 minutes)

I will begin the class by asking student what they already know about oil
spills. Students will turn to a partner and discuss what they think oil spills
are, and why they are problematic to the environment.
We will then discuss responses as a class.
Following the discussion, I will show the class a short video about the Gulf of
Mexico oil spill.
Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcZ9MLDuIl0
B. Oil Spill Cleanup Simulation (30 minutes):

Explain to students that we are going to simulate what it is like to

clean an oil spill
I will pass out pie plates that contain water and oil
Students will also receive supplies to help cleanup the oil spill
(remove the oil placed in the water)
Supplies students will receive: cotton balls, sponges, nylon, straws
Students will record what methods worked best on a google form
The google form simply asks: what materials worked best to clean the
oil, why they think those materials worked best, and what obstacles
they encountered during the process
The form can be found here:
https://docs.google.com/a/stu.ca/forms/d/1vIGubWElW9xrpmg43ttEZ2l
ZyIoY6FQ1NK5KCoj5OpY/viewform

C. Follow up and Reflection (10 minutes)

Discuss the results of the google form with students

Ask students why they think certain materials worked better than others
Explain to students that when cleaning an oil spill, often the objective is to
contain the oil. Then, ask students what materials they think would work
best to contain oil.
As well, explain to students that materials that absorb oil are often used
during a clean up process. Ask students what materials were used that
best absorbed the oil. The likely response will be cotton, and students will
likely respond cotton on the google form.

Groupings:
X Individual
Pairs
Small Group (3-4)
X Whole class
Teaching
Strategies:
Conferencing
Graffiti
Guided Reading
Guided Writing
X Investigation
Jigsaw
Lecture
Numbered Heads
Placemat
Read Along/ Aloud
Seminar
Socratic
Textbook
Video
x Think/Pair/Share
Other: Rapid Writing
Other: Academic
Controversy
Assessment
Strategies:
Homework Check
Formative Check
(Handout)
X Observation
X Participation
Pres./ Dramatization
Post-Assessment
Quiz
Quiz/ Test
Self/Peer Edit
Summative Check
Written Product
Other: Exit slip

Reflection (Post-lesson):