Oil Gushers & Boomtown Math: Spindletop Readers Theater for STEM Integration

The January 10 1901 gusher at Spindletop changed world energy—and it’s dramatized in the Spindletop Oil Boom script for grades 6-8. Students voice wildcatters, drill-crew chiefs, and local townsfolk, experiencing boomtown fever firsthand.

STEM Tie-In

TEKS 6.4 expects students to apply ratios and decimals. During a second read-through, pause at the blowout scene and display real production numbers (Lucas Well: 100,000 barrels / day). Have groups convert barrels to gallons and compare to modern wells.

Discussion Prompts

• Environmental trade-offs of rapid drilling
• Economic ripple effects on railroads and housing

Optional Extension (Teacher-Created)

Not included in PDF. Boomtown-math relay: teams roll dice to simulate fluctuating output, then graph profit over five “days.”

Download: Spindletop Oil Boom Script