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Will the Lights Go Out? (Grade 9-12)

Master Teacher

Pamela Williams

Time Allotment

40 minutes

Overview

Since the events of Sept. 11^th, there has been a renewed interest in nuclear power safety. Can we use nuclear power as a safe alternative fuel source, or are there safer options out there? Through the use of the Internet and video, this lesson explores that issue.

Subject Matter

Physical Science

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to:

Diagram a nuclear power plant;
Describe the process for generating electrical power;
Discuss nuclear disasters in the 20th century;
Draw a conclusion about the value of nuclear power for the future.

South Carolina Standards

Visit SC Standards Web site

II A 3. The nuclear forces that hold the nucleus of an atom together, at nuclear distances, are usually stronger than the electric forces that would make it fly apart. Nuclear reactions convert a fraction of the mass of interacting particles into energy, and they can release much greater amounts of energy than atomic interactions. Fission is the splitting of a large nucleus into smaller pieces.

c. Debate the consequences of the development of nuclear applications such as the atomic bomb, nuclear power plants, and medical technologies.

Media Components

Video

Events of the 20^th Century, Lesson 2: "Chernobyl"

Related Materials

If time allows, you may want to show your class the following two videos:

Energy the Pulse of Life, Lesson 8: "Renewable Sources"

Nuclear Physics, Lesson 5: "Electric Energy from Fission"

Web Sites

The American Experience
This Web site diagrams a nuclear power plant, shows the sequence of events for March 28, 1979 at Three Mile Island, and tells the number of existing nuclear power plants.

Knowitall.org (Optional)
This site can be used to get a South Carolina perspective on nuclear energy. It allows for small video segments to be viewed by the class on nuclear reactions to the disposal process. Type in nuclear energy in the Search block.

Materials

Per student:

pencil and paper
color pencils or crayons
Activity Sheets

Equipment

computer with Internet capability

Prep for Teachers

Prior to teaching this lesson, bookmark the Web sites used in the lesson on each computer in your classroom.
Load the Real Player and Shockwave plug-ins onto each computer. These are available free at http://www.macromedia.com.
When using media, provide students with a Focus for Media Interaction, a specific task to complete and/or information to identify during or after viewing of video segments, Web sites or other multimedia elements.

Introductory Activity

Step 1: Distribute Activity Sheet 1. Ask the students to go to the American Experience Web site and click on Three Mile Island: What Happened?

Step 2: Provide the students with a Focus for Media Interaction by asking them to answer the six questions on Activity Sheet 1.

Step 3: Ask the students to scroll down to the map of the United States. Provide them with a Focus for Media Interaction by asking them to make a legend to code the states according to the amount of electricity generated by nuclear power and to list the number of plants in each state.

Learning Activities

Step 1: Distribute Activity Sheet 2 and ask the students to go to bookmarked American Experience Web site, again.

Step 2: Ask them to click on Three Mile Island: What Happened? Then, go to special features and access What Happened?

Step 3: Provide students with a Focus for Media Interaction by telling them to complete Activity Sheet 2 using the information they get from the Web site.

Culminating Activity

Step 1: Insert Events of the 20^th Century, Lesson Two: "Chernobyl" into the VCR. Provide a Focus for Media Interaction by asking the students to list health problems associated with radiation exposure.

Step 2: Discuss with students if the risk is worth the cost for electricity.

Assessment

Have the students divide into two groups and debate the risk and benefits of nuclear power. They should be able to sight information gathered in the Learning Activities as well as the Culminating Activity.

Cross-Curricular Extensions

Social Studies: Create a timeline following the development of nuclear power in the United States.

Discuss the role of the media in the development of the nuclear power in the U.S. verses Russia.

Art: Create a piece of art to represent a nuclear wasteland.

Community Connections

Research your state to locate the nuclear facilities and schedule a field trip.
Develop a timeline for your state's nuclear power development.

Student Materials

Activity Sheets 1 and 2
colored pencils or crayons
pen or pencil