Ms.Bingham

The Choir Academy

Grade6

Picture of oil coming out of the broken well pipe-Gulf of Mexico 2010

INTRODUCTION:

In April 2010 an oil drilling rig in the Gulf of Mexico had a major accident that resulted in a massive explosion and fire. The rig was drilling for oil more than a mile deep. After the fire, the rig sank and the well’s oil poured out into the waters of the Gulf. Although the exact rate of flow is unknown, it is clear that millions of gallons of crude oil are polluting the water and the surrounding coastal areas in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida. This may well turn out to be the greatest natural disaster in the nation’s history.

TASK:

As member of the National Wild Life Preservation Society (NWLPS), you have been asked to design a three minute PowerPoint presentation to create discussion around policies to deal with the spill and the results of the massive pollution of beaches, and wetlands. The NWLPS would like you to submit a hard copy of this PowerPoint presentation to The Agency of Wildlife and Animal Affairs. Your opinions are being considered by people in the federal and state governments as well as the BP Oil, the company who owns the well that is pouring out oil. Your work is important and timely.

PROCESS:

You will be assigned to a group. Each group member will have a specific task to accomplish as follows:

· Leader-will be responsible for keeping the time frame, collecting the materials and assuring that all the group members are actively participating

· PowerPoint developer-will take the ideas and final feedback of the group to develop the Power Point presentation.

· Researcher-will be responsible for making sure that the final presentation incorporates the research that group did to come up with their solution. Make sure that citations are made at the end of the PowerPoint, complete with web links.

· Public Policy Analyst-will make sure that all of the steps of the Public Policy analysis are completed and recorded on the six worksheets

· Presenter-will present for the group to The Agency of Wildlife and Animal Affairs

Along with the information from the resources, follow the Public Policy Analyst (PPA) six step processes. http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/TIPS/select.html

Complete the worksheets and allow them to guide you with your policy paper, power point, and public awareness project.

1. Identifying the problem (Worksheet #1)-

2. Gathering Evidence (Worksheet #2)

3. Identifying Causes of the problem (Worksheet #3)

4. Evaluate the Policy (Worksheet #4)

5. Develop a Solution to the problem (Worksheet #5)

6. Selecting the Best Solution (Worksheet #6)

RESOURCES:

1. Louisiana Oil Spill 2010 PHOTOS: Gulf Of Mexico Disaster Unfolds

2. News Analysis - Gulf Oil Spill Is Bad, but How Bad? - NYTimes.com

3. BP Oil Spill: Oil Hits Louisiana Coast; Obama Administration Calls

4. 2010 Gulf Oil Spill –BP Oil company web page

5. Scenes From The 2010 Gulf Oil Spill - CNBC

6. Gulf Oil Spill 2010 Mapping Information - Governor's Office of Louisiana

7. Oil spill in Gulf of Mexico 2010 cost for BP up to $8 billion

8. Gulf oil spill 2010: Oil reaches shore, hampers fishing

9. International Bird Rescue | Gulf Oil Spill Response

Evaluation:

You will also receive a grade for your work as a group member:

	Excellent 100-90 (4)	Very Good 89-80 (3)	Satisfactory 79-65 (2)	Unsatisfactory 65-Below (1)
Ideas and Content	Problem clearly identified and thoroughly researched	Problem identified and reasonably well researched	Problem identified	Problem identified but research is lacking
PPA Usage	All six steps of the PPA are clearly addressed and all worksheets correctly completed	All six steps of the PPA are addressed and most worksheets correctly completed	Limited research	Incomplete worksheets
Quality of Information	Information clearly relates to the main topic. It includes several supporting details and/or examples.	Information clearly relates to the main topic. It provides 1-2 supporting details and/or examples.	Information clearly relates to the main topic. No details and/or examples are given.	Information has little or nothing to do with the main topic.
Internet Use	Successfully uses suggested internet links to find information and navigates within these sites easily without assistance.	Usually able to use suggested internet links to find information and navigates within these sites easily without assistance.	Occasionally able to use suggested internet links to find information and navigates within these sites easily without assistance.	Needs assistance or supervision to use suggested internet links and/or to navigate within these sites.
Cooperation	We worked will as a team. We each did our jobs. We have all contributed equally. We solved our problem creativity	We worked reasonably well as a team. We did our jobs. We helped each other, when needed. We got the job done.	We had a rough start. Needed intervention at least two times. Completed the task with assistance.	We needed direction most of the time. We struggled with every component of the process. Final project looked rushed.

Each group member will receive a grade for the power point and the presentation.

Conclusion:

You have now learned the importance of maintaining a balance with nature. Your investigations should give you a greater appreciation of the complex nature of our need for energy balanced against the damage to the environment that can be caused in the process of getting resources like oil. The lives of all Americans and many people in other countries may be affected by this spill for many years to come. It is important that you keep informed about this event and the ongoing issues involved. Hopefully your research and recommendations will give you a greater insight to one the key issues of our century. Thank you for your efforts!

Standards:

The WebQuest uses the following Science and Technology

Standards:

Life Sciences Concepts – Standard 2

· Demonstrates understanding of populations and ecosystems and the effects of resources and energy transfer on populations.

Scientific Thinking- Standard 5

· Identifies problems; proposes and implements solutions; and evaluates the accuracy, design, and outcomes of investigations.

· Works individually and in teams to collect and share information and ideas.

Scientific Communication- Standard 7

· Represents data and results in multiple ways.

· Argues from evidence.

· Critiques published materials

· Explains a scientific concept or procedure to other students

· Communicates in a form suited to the purpose and the audience.

Technology Standards – Standard 5

· Students will apply technological knowledge and skills to design, construct, use, and evaluate products and systems to satisfy human and environmental needs.