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News In Brief

Another game makes fun out of drilling for oil

Adriene Hill Jul 7, 2010

If the BP Offshore Oil Strike board game isn’t enough oil spill gaming for you–check out the US Minerals Management Service “Drilling for Oil” game .

“This activity is designed to help your students understand that oil is trapped beneath the surface of the earth’s crust. Oil can be found and produced to meet the energy needs of the nation, but it takes scientific knowledge to do so.”

The “game” involves drilling for oil deposits. Pencils are drilling rigs. A can of black shoe polish represents the oil deposit.

One problem with the set-up: cans of shoe polish don’t spew.

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