Students evaluate the positive aspects of nuclear developments. Submitted by Luz Rebecca Sumingwa.
Materials:
- Computer Lab for the web lesson/research (one desktop per student)
- Research Guide questions
- Coloring/drawing materials, glue or paste, and scissors
- Pictures/cut outs related to the topics (pictures of scientists, military officers, key persons in the MP; site photos, lab set–ups, the atomic bombs, etc…)
- The Manhattan Project by Cynthia Kelly
Assignment:
In this lesson, students are expected to:
- Gain insights/sufficient background on the Manhattan Project;
- Integrate history (WWII) with scientific developments and discoveries
- Internalize the role of the Manhattan Project in the birth of the “Atomic Age"
Procedure:
Day 1: Intro to the Manhattan Project
Students divide into 6 small groups and answer the following questions:
The What Group:
- What is the Manhattan Project all about?
- What is the main goal or objective of the project?
- What are the technologies needed/developed by this project?
- What were the countries that were involved in this project?
- Explain the role of each country in the project.
The When Group:
- When was the Manhattan Project began?
- What world event was it conceived?
- Describe the conditions of the whole political world that led to the establishment of the said project.
- What are were the researches /experiments being conducted by different physicists and chemists around the world during this critical times?
The Where Group:
- Where is the Manhattan Project situated?
- Describe all the places that served as sites for the project. What are the specific activities/researches that were held in each site of the project?
The Why Group:
- Why was the Manhattan Project created or conceptualized?
- What were the pressures that led to the birth of the project?
- Explain the timeliness/urgency of the project.
The Who Group:
- Who were those state/national leaders, scientists are involved in the Manhattan Project? Include the international leaders and the well known scientists ( chemists, physicists and biochemists) who were the key researchers in the making/discovery of atomic bombs.
The How Group:
- How did the Manhattan Project began?
- How did the Manhattan Project opened up to the birth of the “Atomic Age”?
- How did the Manhattan Project influence the advancement of science in the whole world after the WWII?
Reminder: Each group must download supporting pictures/photos of their topic for the group assessment
Day 2: Results and Presentations
Group share their reports based on the web searched topics. Teacher shows video clips presentations from DVD “A Sense of Place“. Each group is given 3-5 minutes to share their research.
Class Assessment: Each group from the 5Ws and H, will fill up the designated circle /spot in the prepared Poster paper with their main data/concepts or use pictures on their findings to make a class Poster or collage on the Manhattan Project before and after the WWII.