Oil Spill Clean-Up Activity

Did you know that oceans cover approximately 71% of the Earth? Yes, it's true. Unfortunately, our oceans are becoming progressively more polluted by chemicals, garbage, oil spills, and overfishing. The activity below will allow you to see what happens to our oceans and its organisms when pollutants such as oil are added.

What you will need:

• Small Plastic Tub

• Toy Sea Creatures and Boats

• Blue Food Dye

• Water

• Olive Oil

• Large Ladle

• Paper Towel

• Dawn

• Sponge

• Feathers

• Blow Dryer

1. Add blue food coloring to the tub and fill it with water

2. Add in your sea creatures and boats

3. Get your hands in the water and play with the creatures and boats for a bit

4. Squirt in some olive oil to simulate an oil spill

5. Think about how you are going to clean up the spill

6. Take a large ladle and try and scoop out the oil

7. Try a paper towel to absorb the rest of it

8. Squirt and mix in some dawn dish soap

9. Try and absorb the oil with a sponge

10. How much of the oil is left? Pick up the animals and see how they are doing.

11. Are the animals covered in oil? Dip a few feathers into the oily water and wash them with the dawn

12. Give the feathers a blow-dry and admire how different they feel from a new feather

The realizations to children after doing this activity are staggering. After doing the activity, read this article about how different oil spills are cleaned up by Patrick at Green and Growing. www.greenandgrowing.org/oil-spill-clean-up-information/