High school students should understand that environmental issues and concerns accompany both the production and consumption of petroleum. To help students explore this topic further, this article discusses how petroleum is used in everyday life, and includes a poster that is running as an insert from the American Geological Institute. If today's students are to have a role in decisions to meet the energy demands of tomorrow, they must understand petroleum's importance, its sources, how it is processed and used, the policies and regulations designed to safeguard natural resources, and global energy needs.