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 NINE

Lessons Learned

Introduction

The worst of the oil crisis appears to be over. While prices across the board are still significantly higher than pre-shock prices, the cost of gasoline is down from its peak and appears to have stabilized. Many people crave a return to life as they once knew it; others feel we can never really go back, and that to continue our oil dependency of the past is short-sighted and irresponsible. Looking forward, how do we balance our short-term desire for energy's benefits with the long-term risks and costs of procuring it?

Part 1: Set the Stage

1. Read "Pulling into the driveway" by CeeGee.

2. Read "Conservation, our new major fuel source" by PrudentRVer.

Part 2: Take Action

Discussion Questions:

Can we just go back to our previous life? Why or why not? What long-term changes do you think we should make?
Why do many people feel the desire to go back to life as it was before the oil crisis?

Part 3: Lesson Activity

1. Review the following posts by Gail The Actuary:

2. Develop a 30-year plan to reduce the United State's dependence on oil. The plan should include each year's percentage mix of (a) energy from oil (b) energy use offset by increased efficiency (c) energy from alternate sources and (d) reduced energy consumption. The plan begins in the current year, with energy from oil = 100 percent.

Part 4: Reflection

Now that the situation is stabilizing, you should be thinking ahead about how to avert future oil crises. You should reflect upon personal, community and governmental changes that need to be made. Use the following questions to help guide you reflection:

How do we balance our short-term desire for energy's benefits with the long-term risks and costs of procuring it?
What long-term changes does the government need to make to start to break our oil dependence?
What can you do to decrease your carbon footprint? How can you motivate others to do the same?
Will you resist slipping back into old habits? If so, how?

Part 5: Take It Further

Now that you have time to start thinking about the permanent changes to your lifestyle, what about changing where you get your energy? Illianaspeedstr has started trying find oil-free sources of electricity on the World Without Oil Team Blog.

While he did not have much luck, it appears others are finding alternative sources. To take it further today, research where your energy comes from. Does your electric grid draw from a wind farm? Does your energy company allow you to select a green energy source? Make sure to post your findings on your blog. If you can, add photographs, drawings or video!

Additional Resources

View lesson ten >>

World Without Oil Classroom Home >>

top