Homeschooling: Cleaning up an oil spill

Have you started hearing, "I'm bored!" yet???

I thought that I would share a fun project that we did this year that

can get "bored" kids excited about science!

I taught an elementary chemistry class this past year for our co-op and one of

our lessons was on organic compounds.  After I had the kids learn how to name simple alkanes, we talked about how oil is a hydrocarbon.

Then, we recreated an oil spill!

The students were given an "environment" complete with animals and plants! Our animals consisted of fake fur and feathers.  The kids just went outside and found some leaves for plants.  

To really recreate the ocean, you can add blue food coloring and salt.  We also had the students build an island of rocks in the center of their pan.

My oil was just canola oil, but we decided that it would have been a lot more fun had we used some motor oil!

We required the students to "purchase" all of their clean-up materials setting a

maximum spending budget of $20,000,000.

Off to the side we had a "Wildlife Rescue Center" that contained a bowl with soap and some paper towels.  Students had to pay extra to use that station to clean their animals.

I have tried to find out where I got this lab originally and cannot find the source.  Here is the table that listed the "cost" of their supplies.  Be easy on me if the link doesn't work right away.  It's my first attempt using Google documents.

Oil Spill Data Table

If anyone knows a source or direct link, please let me know.  I'd much rather use that!

The class was a huge success and I know that many students in the class went home and "instructed" their younger siblings and recreated another spill at home!

The students also learned how tedious it is to remove all of the oil and how limited they are by a budget!  Great life lessons!

I love when kids get excited about science!