The Oil Embargo: What, When, Why, and How did it Impact Local Schools?

2009 Fellowship, Champaign County Archives

Jacob Bretz

To download this lesson in PDF format, click here.  

 

Lesson 3:

This lesson involves examination of primary sources, completion of graphic organizers, and a writing exercise regarding the action taken at the federal, state, and local levels in response to the OPEC oil embargo.

 

        Teacher Prep

á      Make copies of and familiarize yourself with the following speech and articlesÉ.

o   Richard Nixon Energy Speech (11-25-73) found at following website, http://www.nixonlibrary.gov/forkids/speechesforkids/energypolicy/energycrisisspeech_transcript.pdf

o   Fuel Cutback Ordered Locally. Urbana Courier, November 8, 1973.

o   Governor Orders Energy Saving Measures. Urbana Courier, November 8, 1973.

o   ItŐs Lights Out for Sports Buffs Who Play in Cold. Urbana Courier, November 8, 1973.

o   Nixon Tells Nation Cool It, Slow Down. Urbana Courier, November 8, 1973.

o   Cook Heads State Effort to Combat Fuel Shortage. Urbana Courier, November 10, 1973.

o   President May Ban Sunday Gas Sales. Urbana Courier, November 25, 1973.

o   ItŐs Official, Daylight Savings Time Starts Jan. 6. Urbana Courier, December 16, 1973.

o   10 Gallon Limit Asked For Cars. Urbana Courier, December 20, 1973.

¤  (Not every article listed above is required to complete the activity, pick and choose the ones you want although I would highly recommend using the Richard Nixon Energy Speech)

á      Copy of Venn Diagram available at the following website, http://www.teachervision.fen.com/tv/printables/scottforesman/Math_2_TTM_13.pdf

 

        Classroom Activities:

á      Place students in partners and pass out the Venn Diagram and any combination of articles from above that you have chosen

á      Students should dedicate one circle each on the Venn Diagram to the federal, state, and local governments

á      Students should read through the articles and fill in the Venn Diagram looking for similarities and differences in the ways each entity dealt with the oil embargo

á      When students are finished come back together as a class and go over the Venn Diagrams

á      Then as a class look at each proposed reform and evaluate which reforms would be most beneficial and do the best job in helping deal with the fuel shortage

á      Students should then choose 2 proposed reforms outlined in the speech and articles they read and write a page reflection paper about why they think the reforms they chose will be most effective