Lesson plan:

Students view the episode, list some consequences of oil spills, discuss where the responsibility should lay, research the relevant regulations, discuss ways of encouraging social responsibility among the community, and design an advertising poster to persuade people to support a community or environmental cause.

View Penguin Point

Ask students to focus on:

• the cause of the oil spill shown in the episode
• the damage done by the oil spill
• how the spill was dealt with

Explore the issue of oil spills

After viewing ask students to form groups and list some other possible consequences of oil spills in addition to those shown in this episode.

Ask students to make a list of precautions which could be put in place to minimise the types of problems highlighted by this episode.

Discuss who should be held responsible: the captain of the ship? the owners?

Research oil spill regulations

Ask students to conduct research which compares the list of precautions they have developed with those actually in place by contacting organisations such as the departments responsible for the environment and marine transport.

Explore the concept of social responsibility

The antisocial trio in the car in this episode have little respect for the concerns of others or the environment. One of them, however, has a change of heart. Ask students to suggest reasons for this. Discuss the methods of persuasion which would work best for people who do not see themselves as committed to community or environmental causes.

Design a poster

Ask students in groups to design an advertising poster for an environmental cause which is designed to sway the uncommitted.