Oil Spill

SUMMARY:	Examine the consequences of an oil spill for a bird though a hands-on experiment. This lesson is part of a series. Select this text to learn more about the series and how to extend its usefulness.
OBJECTIVES:	Students will become aware of the threat humans have on wild animals.
SUBJECTS:	Science
GRADES:	4 - 8
LENGTH:	1 - 2 hours

Background: Oil spills are just one of the ways that humans can have a harmful affect on bird populations. When oil mixes with water it floats on top of it because it is less dense. This is particularly harmful in the oceans because the ocean surface is where the majority of wildlife is, especially birds. Oil from spills coats birds' feathers, destroying their ability to repel water. Birds can become waterlogged and drown or may be poisoned while trying to clean their feathers of oil.

Materials: Feathers, salad oil, several shallow container of water (4-5 inches deep), mild dish detergent, and paper towels.

How to:

1. Set up several tables with 2 shallow containers of water on each table. Divide the students by how many tables you have set up.
2. Each station should first investigate how a feather reacts with water. Have them float feathers on the water and observe how water is repelled.
3. Each station simulates an oil spill by pouring salad oil into one of the pans of water. Have the students observe how the water reacts with the oil. Does it float? Does it sink?
4. Dip a feather into the oil/water mixture. What happens to the feather?
5. Now put the oily feather in the fresh pan of water. Does the feather float or sink? (It should sink because it can no longer repel water).
6. Now have the students see if they can clean the oil off of the feather with just water. Did it work? Try it with a mild dish soap. Did this work? ( Gentle cleaners like this are used to clean birds after oil spills instead of harsh cleaners so as not to harm the bird.)
7. Discuss as a class the results of your experiment and the harmful effects and consequences of oil spills.