Independent Study for Students

LESSON ONE
Oil Crisis:
Get Into the Game
A global oil crisis has begun. Oil usage worldwide has increased to where the oil supply can only meet 95 percent of the demand. Begin the inquiry into the effects of less oil in our lives.

LESSON TWO:
How Bad Can It Get?
Fuel prices rise in anticipation of when actual supplies start to run short. It's clear that there is no quick fix to the shortage. Tensions start to rise.

LESSON THREE:
Life Is Starting to Change
Widespread changes are starting. Goods and services that depended on cheap oil are failing.

LESSON FOUR:
Elasticity and Collapse
This lesson investigates the factors that define elasticity in relation to oil—factors such as lifestyle, geography, setting and community.

LESSON FIVE:
Oil Dependency Among Nations
The oil crisis has caused some nations to reconsider their foreign policy objectives—and to aggressively seek to acquire oil.

LESSON SIX:
Food Without Oil
The impact of oil on our food supply is one of the most serious aspects of the oil crisis. Shortages are forcing many people to look for locally grown food.

LESSON SEVEN:
Breakdown
Governments have been hit as hard as anyone by the crisis, leading to the existence of red and green zones in cities and refugee camps in rural areas.

LESSON EIGHT:
Preparation and Community
With problems piling up and the government unable to help, many communities across the nation are turning inward for solutions.

LESSON NINE:
Lessons Learned
Now that the crisis has stabilized, how do we go forward? How do we balance our desire for energy's benefits with the risks and costs of procuring it?

LESSON TEN:
Your World Without Oil
Help out the World Without Oil team. Script and deliver your own citizen report that communicates what is happening to you in the crisis.

STUDENTS: LESSON TWO

How Bad Can It Get?

Introduction

It's now been a few weeks since the announcement that the world was running short of oil. Fuel prices continue to rise in anticipation of when actual supplies start to run short. It's becoming clear that there is no quick fix to the shortage, but many citizens are starting to hoard fuel anyway. Tensions are starting to rise.

Part 1: Set the Stage

Re-immerse yourself in the alternate reality: it's an oil crisis, there's not enough to go around.
Now watch Kal's "Organized Violence" video. Also read Anda's webcomic about college students.

Part 2: Take Action

1. Discussion Questions:

Why are people angry?
If the crisis continues for months or years, who is going to be impacted the most? (Who will end up with less oil?) Why?

Part 3: Lesson Activity

Read one of these WWO citizen reports:

What about government action? Research the 1973 and 1979 oil crises in the U.S. Do you think the immediate actions (gas rationing, national speed limit) and the longer term outcomes (more fuel efficient cars, etc.) that the United States government implemented at that time will work today? Would they help prevent the events described in the WWO citizen reports? Why or why not?

How bad can it get? What about these scenarios?

Part 4: Reflection

Now that you know that the situation is serious and that people are already showing the ugly side of human nature, what is going on around you? Use the following questions to help guide your reflection:

How are people in your region reacting?
How are you involved?
Based upon these events, how are you feeling about the future?

Part 5: Take It Further

Some of life's best lessons are learned by listening to the words of those who have experienced events that have shaped our world. To take it further today, find a parent, grandparent or family friend that remembers the 1973 and/or 1979 oil crises. What exactly do they remember? How did they have to change their lives? Are they surprised that the United States continues to be so dependent on oil? Do they think the lessons of the 1970s have been lost and if so, why? Share the responses through your blog, a video interview or a podcast.

Additional Resources

View lesson three >>

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