Several classroom activities using a model of a seashore and an oil spill demonstrate the basic properties of oil spills in oceans. Students brainstorm about how to best clean up the mess. They work in teams, and after agreeing on how they will proceed, their method is tested by measuring the amount of oil removed and by rating the cleanliness of their seashore. Complementary activities introduce the effects of ocean currents and weather and help predict the impact certain methods will have on the environment in the long term. (Contains 1 figure.)