Oil Drop Hide and Seek

Using real life examples helps students learn abstract concepts. In this lesson, students take on the role of an oil company, graphing “oil drops” hidden around the classroom.

Oil and natural gas come predominantly from the remains of microscopic plants and small animal organisms that lived millions of years ago. Although dinosaurs might have been living during that time, it is the remains of the smallest organisms that are primarily the source of oil and natural gas. These tiny plants and animals lived in the rivers and seas that covered the Earth's surface millions of years ago. This is where we get the name "fossil fuels." These resources are important because they make over 6,000 products we use in our daily lives. This video shows just a few.

For full instructions, download the lesson below.