Description of the activity: The activity involves a small scale simulation of oil spill clean-up and containment protocol including the use of booms, skimming, and other techniques. The simulation will be performed by filling plastic cups with water, adding oil to the water to simulate an oil spill, and then participants will be given the freedom to experiment with the optimal method for removing the oil from the water or stopping it from "contaminating" other areas by using provided materials like spoons and tamper evident bands from water bottles and milk jugs. For instance, a child might decide to remove the oil from the water by scooping it out with a spoon in which case a volunteer would explain how their method is similar to a real life technique called skimming; likewise, if the child decided to contain the spill by encircling it with a tamper evident band (or some other buoyant material like a rubber band), a volunteer could explain that the band is a metaphor for the use of booms to contain oil spills. If a child didn't want to experiment by themselves, the volunteer could show them how each material is similar to using a technique actually employed in oil spills.
