Gas Prices Even Higher?

Before I post my daily lesson ideas, I wanted to respond to the comment that Elementary History Teacher (click here too) posted on my comment yesterday. "...You're giving enough ideas that teachers could tweak them to fit various grades." I would be thrilled if other teachers tweaked my ideas. I would even be happier if you left comments explaining how you changed my ideas or added ideas of your own in reference to the various newspaper articles.

NOW ON TO THE IDEAS OF THE DAY...

The Seattle Times runs an article entitled "Coming Soon: Gas Price Jump," which states, "Washington drivers will likely feel the brunt of BP's closure of its Prudhoe Bay oil field in Alaska, although gasoline-price increases are not expected to hit hard until later this week." The article predicts that gas prices in the Pacific Northwest and California might hit $4.00 a gallon.

Some teaching ideas:
1. Ask students to consider the importance of gasoline in their lives. In addition to using it for cars how else does gas effect them?
2. Explain the idea of a limited budget (or ask students to explain this idea). On a limited budget, if people have to spend more money on gas what does it mean? You might ask students to consider what they could spend less money on.
3. Ask students if they can think of any reasons that high gasoline prices might be a good thing. What positive outcomes might come from higher gas prices? Encourage students to debate the merits of higher gas prices.
4. In a geography or an art class, you might have students diagram oil pipes mentioned in the article that stretch from Alaska to the Pacific Northwest. Consider with students why such a sketch, like any other map, might be useful.
5. Ask students to develop commercials informing the public about the reasons that gas prices are getting higher.

If you are looking for an even more detailed lesson on gas prices, I've developed one which is posted on EconEdLink's website, here: The Price of Gasoline: What's Behind It?