Recycled Russian nuclear weapons provide 10 percent of the nuclear energy that the United States uses. The short presentation discusses the Teller-Ulam device. It provides a diagram of the parts as well as a description of the four...

Students research and discuss issues surrounding the atomic bomb and the concerns it raised and the consequences of dropping the atomic bombs on Japan. A variety of sample questions are provided to engage discussion.

Students investigate energy sources by examining photographs.  In this atomic energy lesson,  students identify and describe various pictures and how atomic energy is used in them.  Students create a presentation...

Atomic bombs harness the power in the nucleus of an atom, creating devastating power and damage. Classes review parts of an atom by charging a piece of plastic and holding it near their fingers, discussing what is happening and why....

Uranium 235 has a half-life of over 700 million years and is the fuel used in the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima, Japan. Pupils see the half-lives and decay rates of Carbon-14 and Uranium-238. They also take measurements of these two...

Students critically investigate the issues surrounding the dropping of atomic bombs on Japan. They conclude if dropping the bombs was a correct decision or not and support their conclusions with documentation. Students tie in atomic...

Atomic theory as a philosophical study was explored even by the Ancient Greeks. The knowledge of atoms was developed in the 17th century.  This PowerPoint explains how by the 1940's, splitting of the atom was discovered and since...

A lesson about the Manhattan Project will explode young physicists' understanding of the racial attitudes in the United States during and after World war II. Groups select an African American scientist or technician that worked on the...

The Manhattan Project was a massive undertaking involving multiple sites and thousands of scientists and technicians. To gain an understanding of the women who participated in the project, groups select an oral history of a woman...

In this atomic energy activity, learners read about Linus Pauling, who spent years making the public aware of the dangers of nuclear weapons. They answer questions about his work and the social responsibility he took on which led to the...

Students examine stewardship activities and issues relating to the Department of Energy's activities on the Oak Ridge Reservation. They identify seven elements of an effective stewardship program, and conduct Internet research.

A mix of scientific details and background information about the well-known sites of radiation attacks or accidents. This topic may open up details that you may consider as sensitive, and could be upsetting to some pupils. This is a...

In a simple activity, physical scientists model nuclear fission using a droplet of oil. This can be used alone in a unit on different types of energy, or as part of the energy conservation unit produced by the Texas State Energy...

High schoolers diagram nuclear power plant, describe process for generating electrical power, discuss nuclear disasters in the 20th century, and draw conclusion about value of nuclear power for the future.

In this lunar meteorite hazard worksheet, students read about the speed of meteorites that crash into the Moon. Students solve 2 problems including finding the impact rates of the meteorites on the Moon, determining the number of years...

Students examine hydrothermal vents. In this ocean lesson, students identify changes in physical and chemical properties of sea water caused by hydrothermal vents.

High schoolers study photosynthesis and chemosynthesis.  In this chemosynthetic lesson plan students explain the processes of these and define terms. 

Young scholars analyze hydrothermal vents. For this hydrothermal vents lesson, students discover the effects of hydrothermal vents on tectonic plates. Young scholars make model hydrothermal vents to understand how they form and operate.

Eleventh graders study the different areas of nuclear chemistry.  In this energy and critical thinking lesson students study radiation, nuclear energy and weapons then divide into groups and create a poster.

In this thermochemistry worksheet, students solve a variety of problems including finding heats or reactions, determining specific heats of substances, finding the amount of energy released in a calorimeter determining the final...

In this science quiz learning exercise, students complete a set of 20 true or false questions covering a variety of general science topics. An answer key is included.

Students role-play a trial regarding the taking of family property for a new water purification plant. Among the roles are the judge, attorneys, witnesses, plaintiff, mayor, and jury members. Once both sides present their case, the...

Students study the use of X-ray data to make size and energy estimates of the source and the processes occurring there. They use XTE observations of the object GRO 1744-28 to determine whether bursts occur periodically and the duration...

A collection that uses primary sources to explore the Atomic Bomb and the Nuclear Age it started.