This unit uses compelling societal issues—such as clean energy, nuclear waste disposal, and food irradiation—as a context for student learning about nuclear chemistry. The unit activities provide a way for teachers to create an inquiry- and project-based learning experience while using their usual textbooks and educational materials. Students also learn how to inform themselves about a science-based societal issue, and how to use this information to make better decisions as a consumer, citizen, patient, employee, or family member.
Unit Project
Students apply their learning to create media projects, such as a brochures, posters, or audio public service announcements, that use knowledge of nuclear chemistry as the basis for advocating or educating about a particular issue. Students can choose from several project topics in which they work for a particular hypothetical client, or they can generate their own project ideas.