Stephen Major
August 13, 2007
Lesson Plan
Curriculum
Area
Science
Subject Area/
Grade
level/Trainee
Audience/Topic
Subject Area: Environmental Science (Environment and Ecology)
Grade: 9
Trainee Audience: Students in 9th Grade at Shamokin Area High School
Topic: Consequences of Energy Use / Alternative Energy
Lesson Title
Effects of Drilling on an Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR)
Rationale for
Lesson
One of the key components in the Environment and Ecology class is how we use energy and the impact
energy use has on the environment. One of the main sources of energy that we use is oil and students ar
unaware of how we get oil. They probably will never have a chance to visit an oil rig, so this location p
them that unique opportunity.
Learning
Archetype
Guided Tour
Learning
Objectives
The student will:
 Describe the main features and functionalities of an oil rig
 Identify the characteristics of an oil rig
 Describe the impact oil drilling has on the environment
SL Location
(can be actual
or you may
need to
develop)
Oil Rig (ANWR)
http://slurl.com/secondlife/ANWR/128/128/0
Stephen Major
Instructions /
Procedure /
Mode
(how is the
class going to
be taught)
August 13, 2007
1. Have students discuss the pros and cons of using oil as a source of energy (if possible, use Sec
Life VOIP feature to facilitate this). Have students decide if they are for or against using oil a
energy source.
2. When discussion on the advantages and disadvantages finishes, have students teleport to the A
Oil Rig to explore the rig.
3. As a group, have the students follow my avatar throughout the ANWR oil rig, pointing out var
features of the rig:
i. Smokestack (burning of excess oil, prevent uncontrolled fires)
ii. Pipeline (on ocean floor)
iii. Helipad (for transport, evacuations, delivery of materials, etc)
iv. Oil storage tanks (temporary oil storage)
v. Office (viewing of maps)
4. At conclusion of instructor-guided portion of tour, allow students ample time (15 minutes) to e
the rig and surrounding area on their own and take observations using the Notecard feature in S
Life.
5. When students finish with the own observations, have a group discussion again on the pros and
of using oil as a source of energy. Note if any students have changed their position on using o
energy source and ask them to share their thoughts with the class.
Evaluation
Strategies
The evaluation will be mainly informal discussion as a class. Students will be asked to send their Notec
my avatar in order for me to evaluate those and count them as a class work grade. I will also be observin
students as they complete the independent observations at the ANWR Oil Rig.
Adaptations
The only adaptation that may need to be made is for students who are unfamiliar with the Second Life in
A survey will be taken prior to the lesson being implemented and those students will have the opportuni
attend a tutorial session on Second Life so that they are comfortable with the environment.
Anticipated
difficulties
The main difficulty that may be encountered will be technical. Because there will be so many students t
access the ANWR Oil Rig at the same time, there will undoubtedly be problems with the VOIP feature,
as problems with students logging in and connecting to Second Life. Ample time will be spent prior to t
lesson to identify any students unfamiliar with Second Life and work with those students to reduce the
incidence of problems during the lesson.
Stephen Major
Screen
Captures of
Lesson
Environment
August 13, 2007
Stephen Major
August 13, 2007