oil Crude Oil is used for more than just gasoline - a problem based learning activity

Oil is used in many everyday objects - many more than you may have ever imagined.

1. Identify the current uses of oil.

 

2. Are there any crude oil sources in your state?

 

3. Imagine that your community no longer has access to one of the products of crude oil.
How would that impact your life?

 

4. How could you adapt? Is there a substitute or alternative?

 

5. How could your community benefit from a change to an alternative?

 

6. What change could be made at your school to reduce its reliance on oil based products?

 

7. What are the costs involved in the change?

 

Think about it:
Styrofoam trays | Plastic Water bottles | Plastic bags

Americans generate 10.5 million tons of plastic waste a year, but recycle only 1 or 2 % of it.

What are the alternatives?

Your America: Take action resources

Other explorations:

What should be done about the gas and oil royalties? | Oil Production Examining History

Saving Energy Survey - Chart - Action | Energy Alternatives Explorations | Energy Plans and their impact on you

Energy PBL | Earmarks | Global Warming | Pension for lawmakers | Product Packaging Conundrum

Privacy of Personal Information at School | Community Development

Alaska: The Senator and the Oil Man | Who killed the electric car? | Homes - rent or own? | Evaluate your Legislator

The Scientific Method - watch this report about the challenges of air quality in one community.
Will you choose to live near a chemical plant?

Energy Forecasts to 2030 - CSPAN free online video | U.S. Energy Information Administration

The Big Energy Gamble - NOVA online videos

The Middle East: Life After the Oil Bust

Rubric template - teacher resource / Problem Based Learning Projects

Internet Hunts / Nature / Computers / Pennsylvania Projects / Puzzles & Projects / Site map / Home

developed by Cynthia J. O'Hora Released to public domain and Posted 1/2007

Pennsylvania Academic Standards
Environment and Ecology

4.2. Renewable and Nonrenewable Resources
A. Know that raw materials come from natural resources. B. Examine the renewability of resources. Identify nonrenewable resources and describe their uses. Determine how consumption may impact the availability of resources. C. Know that natural resources have limited life spans. Analyze how man-made systems have impacted the management and distribution of natural resources. Analyze the costs and benefits of different man-made systems and how they use renewable and nonrenewable natural resources.

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