Print this pageDESP - Oil and Gas Exploration Unit Grades 7-12
WILLIAMS, STEVE J., and MARSHA BARBER
The Denver Earth Science Project is a unique collaboration between professional earth science educators, direct from the classroom, and industry, governmental and institute scientists to create meaningful curriculum. It is student centered, using a problem solving approach, with hands on emphasis that has been proven to be successful in the classroom. It integrates science, math, geography, economics and social studies into a high interest topic. The Oil and Gas Unit was conceived and developed in the Denver offices of Amoco Production Company. It has been taught to over 50,000 students in the United States and several foreign locations. Designed as a 6 week module, many teachers have used portions of the unit, or integrated specific activities in any number of classroom settings. The unit includes teacher training and an extensive collection of materials and reproducible activities.
The module outline:
1. Oil-What Is It Used For?
2. Geography -- Where Has Oil Been Found? A world look at where the oil reserves exist, who produces them and who consumes them.
3. Oil Generation -- The origin of hydrocarbons.
4. What Is An Oil Field? -- How hydrocarbons are trapped and produced.
5. Where Do You Look For Oil? -- Seismic, Paleo, Prudhoe Bay case study.
6. Gushers and Dusters -- an exciting simulation that challenges the students to apply their skills and search for hydrocarbons and profit.
This poster session will highlight the key activities and include actual student product.