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 SEVEN

Breakdown

Introduction

The oil shortage has caused episodes of disorder and violence throughout the United States and local, state and federal government are reacting in controversial ways. At the local level, some police and fire departments have been unable to respond to all calls, resulting in the creation of unofficial Red (dangerous) and Green (safe) Zones in most cities. Outside the cities, the federal government has established refugee camps for those forced to leave their homes because of violence or lack of food. It has been reported that some of these camps have been converted to agriculture work camps to help offset the food shortages. Few official reports address the true nature of these camps.

Part 1: Set the Stage

Watch PeakProphet's "Petroterrorism in Nashville" video.

Part 2: Take Action

1. Review the following posts and create a list of what the U.S. government should be doing for citizens during times of crisis.

Part 3: Lesson Activity

1. Read the following articles about Hurricane Katrina (2005) and the San Diego wild fires (2007). Then make a general comparison of the government reactions. How did the local, state and federal governments fail in New Orleans and succeed in San Diego? What factors contributed to these outcomes? Could socioeconomics be involved?

Part 4: Reflection

You should now consider the large-scale problems that could erupt in the community and environment around you. Preexisting tensions, severe economic disparities and available local resources could all factor into the situation that people are facing in your community. Use the following questions to help guide your reflections:

How are the citizen groups in your area reacting to the crisis? Have they remained calm? Why or why not?
What are the measures your local government is taking to maintain order? How is the oil shortage affecting the government's ability to act?
Where are the Red and Green Zones in your area? Do you live in a Green or Red zone?

Part 5: Take It Further

As the situation gets tense, we have to find ways to cope—and not only physically, but emotionally as well. One way to lessen fear, especially of the unknown, is to play with it, because play creates a non-threatening space where we can think about problems and even try out solutions.

To take it further today, come up with some games to play that help participants think about and adapt to the oil crisis. The games can be for children as well, because they are looking for ways to fight fear as much as anyone.

For inspiration, read Avantgame's defense of play even during crisis. And look at Defend the Farm or Steal the Crops.

Don't forget to document your game ideas in your blog!

Additional Resources

View lesson eight >>

World Without Oil Classroom Home >>

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