Lesson 2 Plan

Nuclear Energy

Purpose:

This lesson introduces students to the concept of nuclear energy. Some of the questions answered are what is nuclear energy, how is electricity produced from nuclear reactors, and how is safety ensured at nuclear power plants?

Concepts:

1. Nuclear energy is an important source for electricity production in the United States.
   
   
2. There are many ways for ensuring safety at nuclear power plants.

Duration of Lesson:

One 50-minute class period

Objectives:

After participating in this lesson, students will be able to

1. describe a nuclear chain reaction;
   
   
2. identify the process used to convert nuclear energy to electricity;
   
   
3. identify the physical barriers that guard against an accidental release of radioactive materials from a nuclear power plant;
   
   
4. discuss the governmental organization that establishes criteria for and regulates the nuclear industry.

Skills:

Describing, discussing, explaining, reading, summarizing, researching

Vocabulary:

Atom, uranium, neutron, nucleus, fission, nuclear chain reaction, spent nuclear fuel, simulators, Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Materials:

Reading Lesson: “Nuclear Energy”

Suggested Procedure:

1. Divide students into equal groups. Assign each member a role: reader, note taker, group spokesperson, etc.
   
   
2. Have each group read the “Nuclear Energy” reading lesson. Allow 10-15 minutes.
   
   
3. After they have read the lesson, ask the students to prepare a 5-10 minute presentation that summarizes the content of the reading lesson.
   
   
4. Ask the designated spokesperson of each group to present the summarized information.
   
   
5. Following the presentations, discuss any points that were not adequately covered in the student presentations.

Teacher Evaluation of Learner Performance:

Completion of each group’s presentation and participation in the class discussion will indicate understanding.

Additional Enrichment:

1. Ask students to identify the different types of nuclear reactors used in the United States and the unique features of each.
2. Ask students to search the Internet and report on the potential future sources of nuclear power now being addressed through research. The U.S. Department of Energy is cooperating with two world-wide initiatives for bringing electric power to a future world needing much more power than is being generated now. The Advanced Fuel Cycle Initiative (AFCI) seeks to use reactors with faster neutrons to break down long-lived nuclear waste. The ITER program is building the first “fusion” reactor, with U.S. participation, in France. Fusion is the opposite of fission. It combines smaller atoms into larger ones, mimicking the nuclear process that fuels the sun.