Curated OER
Solar Matters
Students design an energy resource wheel and demonstrate how to use it to access information about renewable and nonrenewable energy sources.
Curated OER
Science: Generating Electricity
Eighth graders examine the various methods of generating electricity and explain their commonalities. They determine what is the most common source of energy and what are the potential environmental health hazards due to electrical...
Curated OER
Climate Change Quiz
In these climate change worksheets, students read through the fourteen questions about climate change. Students select the correct answer to complete the quiz.
Curated OER
Tsunamis
Students investigate the natural disasters known as tsunamis by researching the Internet. In this nature activity, students define the word tsunami and discuss how they are created. Students complete an online activity based...
Curated OER
Conservation of Energy
In this energy worksheet, students review the law of conservation of energy and how energy is transformed from one form to another. Students complete 10 matching, 10 fill in the blank, and 7 problems to solve.
Other
Union of Concerned Scientists: Nuclear Power
General information on nuclear power and feature articles on particular issues of the day such as articles concerning the nuclear reactor crisis in Japan due to the earthquake and tsunami of March, 2011.
TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: How Do Nuclear Power Plants Work?
M.V. Ramana and Sajan Saini detail the challenges of nuclear power.
Other
Nuclear Energy Institute
The Nuclear Energy Institute is an extensive resource for information on nuclear technology, public policy issues, careers in nuclear energy, nuclear power plants, nuclear facts, radiation in agriculture, definitions, and much more.
Other
Teaching Social Responsibility: Teachable Moment: Japan's Nuclear Power Debate
Readings and news articles provide information on the debate over nuclear energy. In particular, the questions being raised due to the crisis in Japan after the earthquake and tsunami in March, 2011.
Other
Need: Exploring Nuclear Energy [Pdf]
This downloadable article addresses all aspects of nuclear energy. Visual charts make understanding of cycles and concepts easier. Most useful for older students and educators. PDF (requires Adobe Reader).
The Washington Post
Washington Post: Going Nuclear
Greenpeace founder Patrick Moore makes a case for nuclear power by listing the attributes as well as the considerations and dangers. April 16, 2006
Yale University
Yale Environment 360: Examining the Missteps in Japan's Nuclear Crisis
An expert on nuclear energy, Michael W. Golay, provides information on the failures that led to the Fukushima nuclear power plant crisis after the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. (Published March 18, 2011)
Other
World Nuclear Association: Three Mile Island Accident
Read about causes and effects of the meltdown that occurred at the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant in 1979. Learn about the layout of the plant and the changes that have been made so another meltdown will not occur.
National Academy of Engineering
Greatest Engineering Achievements of the Twentieth Century: Nuclear Technologies
Students learn about nuclear technologies in the 20th century. Some topics explored are splitting the atom, the Manhattan Project, and power plants. The resource includes historical information, a timeline, and a personal essay by a key...
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Fission and Fusion
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Students will investigate fission and fusion, and discover how they play a part in nuclear chain reactions in fission bombs, nuclear power plants, and radiation in...
University of Wisconsin
The Why Files: Time for Nukes?
The Why? Files article features the alternative energy source nuclear power and discusses the benefits and hazards of nuclear power plants. Also contains additional links for further study.
Other
Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory: Fusion Basics
A wealth of background information on nuclear fusion and its potential use as a commercial energy resource. The advantages of nuclear fusion over other resources, the conditions required for its successful implementation and the future...
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
The National Academies: Our Energy Sources: Nuclear Energy
Nuclear fission energy accounts for a large portion of energy production worldwide. New plants will use improved technologies. There is also research underway to explore how to harness the energy produced from nuclear fusion, but this...
Other
Chernobyl Children's Project International
The heart-breaking addendum to the Chernobyl accident is that thousands of children were and are still affected by the fallout. Here are the results of an international organization that strives to help these children.
Ducksters
Ducksters: Physics for Kids: Nuclear Energy and Fission
Kids learn about nuclear energy and fission in the science of physics including E=mc2, power plants, uses of nuclear power, and fusion.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Rolling Blackouts & Environmental Impact
The goal is for the students to understand the environmental design considerations required when generating electricity. The electric power that we use every day at home and work is generated by a variety of power plants. Power plants...
State Energy Conservation Office-Texas
Seco: Environmental Pollutants From Electricity Production [Pdf]
Facts about some major environmental pollutants produced by power plants, and what consumers can do to lower the carbon footprint from their energy use.