Describes two methods to teach radioactive decay to secondary students with wide ranging abilities. Activities are designed to follow classroom discussions of atomic structure, transmutation, half life, and nuclear decay. Includes "The Tasmanian Empire: A Radioactive Dating Activity" and an exercise to teach concepts of half life without…

Describes a computer simulation of the Compton effect designed to lead students to discover (1) the relationship of the electron's final kinetic energy to its angle of scattering and (2) the relationship between the scattering angles of the outgoing electron and photon. (MDH)

Teachers in the Tennessee Valley region, working in cooperation with the Tennessee Valley Authority's (TVA) network of university-based centers and cooperatives for environmental/energy education developed this sourcebook of energy education materials for grades 9-12. The materials were intended to supplement a variety of high school disciplines.…

Discusses characteristics of instructional modules that deal with the relationship between science, technology, and society (STS). Provides reviews of 14 print modules and one video that cover such topics as air and water quality, consumer science, genetics, nuclear energy, space, and technological issues. (TW)

Describes an exercise to develop interest and understanding about nuclear energy in which students make presentations regarding a proposal to build a hypothetical nuclear power plant. Students spend two weeks researching the topic; give testimony before a "Senate Energy Committee"; and vote on the proposal. Background information is…

We have investigated the conceptual understandings of seventy-eight 16-year-old Australian high school students' and their knowledge about several issues related to nuclear energy. As a result of their study of the physics topic Nuclear Technology, the students learned more about applications of nuclear technology, had better though still…

The Social Issues course is designed to help students make rational and constructive decisions regarding various social and environmental problems. It is intended to be used with 10, 11, or 12th grade students. This course contains units on decision-making, urban planning, food and nutrition, environmental pollution, nuclear energy, and resource…

Using an interdisciplinary approach, this curriculum focuses on an understanding of: (1) the fundamental principles of operation of a nuclear power plant; (2) the place of nuclear energy in the overall energy-supply-demand situation; (3) risk-benefit balance of the major energy sources; and (4) the role of political action in the development of…

The purpose of this handbook is to present information about energy and to translate this information into learning activities for children. Chapter 1, "Energy: A Delicate Dilemma," presents activities intended to provide an introduction to energy and energy usage. Chapter 2, "What are the Sources of Energy?" provides…

This teacher's resource guide is designed to facilitate the planning of science and history/social science classroom instruction concerning nuclear age issues for elementary and secondary students. The materials introduce this topic with an interdisciplinary approach to a broad range of nuclear topics. The booklet is divided into five sections.…