1. Why do birds have feathers? What do feathers allow the bird to do?
Call to Order
Why do birds have feathers?
What do feathers allow the bird to do?

2. What’s the purpose of feathers?
Keep the bird warm
Aid in flight
Protects the skin of the bird from toxins
I’m cold.

3. Today’s Objective creating and cleaning up an oil spill and
Students will be able to describe the government actions required during environmental catastrophes such as oil spills by
creating and cleaning up an oil spill and
completing a RAFT assignment.

4. Environmental Policy Goals: Preserve wetlands and natural resources
Putting restrictions on individuals and businesses to solve problems of pollution, deforestation, and environmental destruction.
Goals:
Preserve wetlands and natural resources
Protect the ecosystem

5. DeepWater Horizon Oil Spill
At 9:45 pm on April 20, 2010, the offshore drilling unit, Deepwater Horizon exploded. After battling the fires for 36 hours, the structure sank into the Gulf of Mexico

6. US Oil Spill Explained Video

7. BP Oil Spill Cap in Action

8. Look at the effect this has on wildlife
Gulf Oil spill birds

9. Now, we’re going to explore why this is such a challenge
And make sure that you don’t smile either.
First, observe the characteristics of the feather when its dry
Then, drip the feather in water and time how fast it dries.

10. Repeat this process by dipping the feather in oil
See how long it takes to dry, up to 3 minutes
Record your results on your sheet
Rinse and wash your feather with soap and water

11. Debriefing the Oil Spill
How fast did it take for your feather to dry?
Why do you think it dried so fast?
What did you feather look like when it was dipped in oil?
How do you think the oily feather would affect the feather’s function?
What did the feather look like after you cleaned it with soap?
How fast did it take to dry feather once you cleaned it?
Compare your beginning feather to your end feather. Is your feather as functional as it was before we started the laboratory?
What government policies should be in place so that ecosystems are preserved? Should these policies be preventative (before the event) or responsive (reacting to the disaster) or both?

12. You may choose to create a RAFT project as…
R.A.F.T. Assignment
You may choose to create a RAFT project as…
… A bird to the oil on its wings in the form of a haiku about the change in its health, or
… A Clean-Up Worker to and Deep Sea Oil Driller in the form of an advice column about environmental protection, or
… A fish to the ocean in the form of a three-panel comic strip (on back) about the oil spill.