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 FOUR

Elasticity and Collapse

Introduction

The economy continues to falter under the burden of a World Without Oil. The shortages and outages are forcing almost everyone to try to adapt. Many people and businesses are elastic—they are trying alternatives to oil, such as carpooling and consolidation. Many individuals, families, businesses and in some cases entire industries, however, are finding that they have no good alternatives to energy from cheap oil—they are inelastic. This lesson investigates the factors that define elasticity in relation to oil—factors such as lifestyle, geography, setting (urban, suburban and rural) and community. People have begun viewing transportation in a very different light.

Part 1: Set the Stage

1. Watch Kal's "Small-Town Shortage" video.

2. Read Anda's Week 11 webcomic about college roommates.

Part 2: Take Action

1. Review your assigned post and prepare to report to the class on the specific concerns voiced by the author and the long-term prospects of the situation. What is your analysis of the concerns? Are they serious?

Airlines, meet the new reality

2. Additional discussion questions:

Does geographic location impact the significance of the concerns?
Do problems and shortages affect urban, suburban and rural areas differently? Why or why not?

Part 3: Lesson Activity

1. Review the concept of elasticity.

Part 4: Reflection

You should have a clear idea about how your regional community depends upon oil. For today's reflection you should focus your thoughts on the greater economic changes happening around you as oil-dependent industries struggle or fold. Use the following questions to help guide your reflection:

What businesses in your community have closed? Has anyone lost a job?
What actions are you taking to become self-sustainable? Is it possible or are your prospects in your immediate community limited?
How are you getting from one place to another?

Part 5: Take It Further

As the oil shortage creates dramatic economic shifts, people are needing to redefine many of their day-to-day activities. PeakProphet at Notes from the Heartland asks us to look at a life beyond oil.

In this post he challenges you to look at what you do and how much energy it consumes. Then try and find ways to reduce or eliminate that consumption. To take it further today, read PeakProphet's post and complete his mission. Make sure to post your list to your blog and add any drawings, photographs or videos that might help illustrate your potential life changes.

Additional Resources

View lesson five >>

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