Name: McEachern, Stacie

E-mail: smceachern@yahoo.com

Topic: Industry in Union County:  Oil and Gas Boom in Arkansas

Grade: 8th grade

Time: 45 minutes

Ark. Hist. Framework: 4.1.10, 4.1.11, 4.1.12, 4.1.13

Objective: The student will describe the economic system in Union County.

The student will analyze the scarcity of the natural resources located in Union county.

The student will design a tourism campaign to attract new business to  Union County.

Set: What is our major employer in Union county? (Lion Oil, Great Lakes, Ensco, etc.)  What do these companies produce?  How long have they been the major employers in our area?  Are there any other large employers in Union county?

Materials: Arkansas history textbook, blank outline map of Union County, art supplies.

Key Terms: commerce, economy, derrick, Union county, Arkansas Oil and Gas Company

Key Facts: *Union county became an industry force on January 10, 1921 when the Bussey #1 well struck oil.

*Within 48 hours El Dorado's population grew from 4,000 to 15,000.

*There were more than 200 well producing oil and gas in Union county.

*Col. T.H. Barton acquired an refinery and named it Lion Oil.

*In 1922, Smackover struck oil and became one of the most prominent oil fields in the country. The town's population reached 10,000.

* J.T. Murphy founded Murphy Oil Company.

*Arkansas Oil and Gas commission established in Union County is the only State commission located out of Pulaski county.

*Great Lakes is a chemical plant that produces products from bromine.

Activities: The teacher will briefly illustrate the history of the economic structure of Union county including the problem of limited supply of these natural resources.  The students will then be divided into groups to design a tourism campaign to attract non oil and gas businesses to settle and invest in Union county inlcuding all of the towns.  Campaign needs to include brochure, tv ad, and a newspaper article or ad.

Closure: Class presentation from each group.  With a closing comment about our economic stability being dependent on natural resources.

Assessment: Grade the projects according to the designed rubric by the teacher.  Include student evaluation of each person in their group for reference to group consistency.

Resources: www.eldoark.com, Arkansas history for Young People, Arkansas:  The World Around Us (elementary textbook).

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