Radioactivity
Intended Level: 8th Grade Physical Science
Focus of Lesson: Students relate what they learn about the science of radioactivity to technology, human activity and history.
Note: this is the first in a series of lessons about radioactivity, meant to engage students and activate prior knowledge about topo maps and radioactivity. A synopsis of other lessons in this series will be discussed under Possible Procedures, below.
Materials:
- Copies of The Radium Girls, one for each student.
- Topo Maps of Jefferson County, CO, from the 1950's, 1970's and current times.
Science Standards Addressed:
Standard 2: Students know and understand common properties, forms and changes in matter and energy. 2.1 Students know that matter has characteristic properties, which are related to its composition and structure.
Science Standards Assessed:
Standard 5: Students know and understand interrelationships among science, technology and human activity and how they can affect the world.
As students in grades 5-8 extend their knowledge, what they know and are able to do includes
describing advantages and disadvantages that might accompany the introduction of new technology.
Assessment:
Write a paragraph on "fads" and possible long term effects on health.
Possible Procedures:
1. Brainstorm what students know about radiation. Where does radiation come from? Help them sort into natural sources and people-made sources:
Natural radiation: higher elevations, sun, food-bananas, mild, rocks, soil
People-made radiation: T.V., X-rays, nuclear weapons, cancer treatments, smoke detectors lasers, airplane travel, fall out
2. Review with students the source of radiation for the people-made sources- uranium, radium, etc., from mines.
3. Using a topo map of Jefferson County, review the topo map symbols. Have students locate streets, major highways, buildings and cities. Locate the symbol for mines on the map. What type of mine is it? Discuss the radioactive sites in Jefferson County. Have they always been there? Look at maps from the 50's, 70's and current times to determine changes over time.
4. Have students read the story of The Radium Girls. Help students focus on what is important versus what is interesting. Discuss what part of the reading constitutes a primary source. Discuss whether or not this could happen in this day and age. Is anything happening now in the fields of science and technology that could lead to social or health problems in years to come? For example- botox injections, DNA manipulation, cloning, tattoing, piercing, drugs.
5. Discuss how radioactivity affects health. Can the same thing be beneficial and harmful?
Other lessons in the series:
Learn to use a geiger counter. Determine the radioactivity of a variety of substances and record data- fiestaware, lanterns, watch faces, food, fertilizers, rocks, dinosaur bones, etc.
Test and identify effective ways to stop radiation.
Use a cloud chamber to show randomness of decay and as evidence of the discrete particulate nature of matter. Compare data with data from geiger counter experiment.
-Jan Myers, Bell Middle School, Golden, CO /Jennifer Nash, Carmody Middle School, Lakewood, CO
