Summary

In this lesson, students will listen to a podcast from Tiny Matters to learn about the Chornobyl Nuclear Disaster of 1986. They will hear about the current conditions in the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone, specifically learning about the animals that live there, and how researchers are trying to understand how constant low levels of radiation impact their health. Following the podcast, students will learn more about radiation and radioactive isotopes using a simulation. They will demonstrate their understanding by creating models of radioactive decay.

Grade Level

High School and Middle School

NGSS Alignment

This lesson will help prepare your students to meet the performance expectations in the following standards:

• HS-PS1-8: Develop models to illustrate the changes in the composition of the nucleus of the atom and the energy released during the processes of fission, fusion, and radioactive decay.
• MS-LS2-4: Construct an argument supported by empirical evidence that changes to physical or biological components of an ecosystem affect populations.
• Scientific and Engineering Practices:
  • Developing and Using Models
  • Analyzing and Interpreting Data

Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students should be able to:

• Listen to a podcast to collect information.
• Identify radioactive elements on the periodic table of elements.
• Explain the meaning of radioactive isotopes.
• Differentiate between types of nuclear decay.
• Accurately model the general process of radioactive decay.

Chemistry Topics

This lesson supports students’ understanding of:

• Nuclear Chemistry
• Radiation
• Radioactive isotopes
• Alpha, beta, and gamma decay

Time

Teacher Preparation: 15 minutes to review the lesson and prep materials

Lesson: 90 – 105 minutes

• Part 1: 45 minutes
• Part 2: 45 – 60 minutes

Materials

Part 1:

• Access to Tiny Matters Podcast Episode: Nearly 40 years after the Chornobyl nuclear disaster, wildlife is thriving
• Periodic Table of Elements (paper or digital copies)
• Anticipation Guide Student Handout
• Listening Guide Student Handout

Part 2:

• AACT Radioactive Decay Simulation
• Radioactive Decay Simulation Student Handout
• Modelling Radioactive Decay Student Handout
• Supplies for modeling radioactive decay:
  • Beads, candy, cereal, paper circles, etc.

Safety

• No specific safety precautions need to be observed for this activity.

Teacher Notes

• This lesson plan was developed as part of a themed content writing team aimed to support the use of Tiny Matters Podcast episodes in the K-12 chemistry classroom.

Part 1:

• Students will begin the lesson by listening to the Tiny Matters podcast episode about the aftermath of the nuclear disaster at Chornobyl. Prior to listening, students will complete a five-question Anticipation Guide to help activate their thinking prior to listening to the podcast. Teachers should remind the students that they are not expected to know the answers to the Anticipation Guide but may have prior knowledge that will help them to respond. After completion, students could volunteer to share their response ideas with the group.
• It may be helpful to point out where Chornobyl is on a globe or map of the world before listening to the podcast.
• Also, note that the podcast includes information about the war in Ukraine, so teachers should consider if/how they might address this in their classroom.
• When students are ready to begin, the teacher should hand out the Listening Guide and explain that students will make notes related to each of the key terms listed as they listen to the podcast. Student notes may be drawings, words, or both.
• As the students listen to the podcast, the teacher should circulate through the room to review student notes and help them stay on task. It may be helpful to stop the podcast periodically to discuss the information.
• If time is a concern, the podcast can be stopped with 7 minutes remaining since that part of the podcast does not directly relate to the wildlife at Chornobyl.
• When the podcast is finished, the teacher should allow a couple of minutes for students to complete their thoughts on the Listening Guide.
• The teacher should instruct students to revisit the Anticipation Guide and respond to the statements again after listening to the podcast. Once students have had an opportunity to reflect, the teacher can then ask for volunteers to share their thinking with the class. The teacher will then go over the correct answers with the class.

Part 2:

• The teacher will ask the students to list the elements that were mentioned on the podcast (Iodine – 131, Cesium-137, Strontium-90). Students should then use their periodic table to find these elements.
  • This could be implemented as a fun game/race: Student flip their periodic table to the blank side, wait for the teacher to say the name of an element, flip it over and raise their hand when they find the element.
  • Alternatively, the teacher could use a large copy of the periodic table of elements and have volunteers compete to find the named element first.
• Focusing on the three radioactive elements listed in the podcast (Iodine – 131, Cesium-137, Strontium-90), the teacher will explain that, as mentioned in the podcast, radiation travels through space and can have different amounts of energy. Radiation with higher energy levels can cause damage to living things.
• Teachers should use the AACT Radioactive Decay Simulation to help students understand and differentiate between three types of radioactive decay.
  • Start with the “Basics” section of the simulation as a review of atomic structure.
  • Ask students the questions that are on the screen and discuss their responses.
  • Students can follow along using the Radioactive Decay Simulation student hanout.
  • Teachers can use the simulation to help students understand each of the types of radioactive decay (alpha, beta, and gamma).
  • While using the simulation, teachers can ask the students to explain what is happening in each of the visual representations of decay.
  • Teachers can also point out the equations for each of the decay reactions.
• Next, students will work in small groups to create a model. Each group should be assigned a specific type of radioactive decay to model (alpha, beta, gamma). Use the Modeling Activity Student Handout to guide the students through the expectations.
• Each group will choose from the materials available to create a model of radioactive decay. Once the models are created, each group should share their models with the class. Some ideas include:
  • Models could be glued to a poster board.
  • Models could be made into a short video, using a device to record the model.
• A reflection question is included at the end of the modeling as an informal assessment of the lesson.
• Answer Key documents are included for all student handouts.

Additional considerations:

• Students may complete the quiz included in the AACT Radioactive Decay Simulation as an assessment of their understanding of types of radioactive decay.
• Teachers may find it helpful to include information about the electromagnetic spectrum when discussing how radiation moves.
• Extension Ideas
  • Lab: Alpha Beta Gamma Radiation
  • Activity: Nuclear Decay Investigation
  • Simulation Activity: Radioactive Decay
  • Simulation: Half-Life Investigation