Social Studies Lesson: Nuclear Energy

In my 9th grade World History class, I adapted this lesson in several ways based on what my students had already learned and where we were headed next. I used it as a launch for our Model United Nations unit, in which students investigate global problems and propose solutions. Students had already formally investigated climate change, including both its causes and effects. We had also explored the development of nuclear technology through the lens of World War II. I thought students would be interested in considering nuclear technology through a different lens—as a potential climate solution. Students conducted research, developed policy proposals, and participated in a structured academic controversy. Using active listening strategies, they considered both sides of the issue before working toward what they believed was the best solution. The lesson particularly engaged students who were drawn to scientific inquiry, perhaps because it gave them an opportunity to apply scientific thinking to a historical and current-events issue. One student, for example, identified nuclear fission as the best solution very early in the lesson, before we had watched the video or engaged in deeper learning. It was interesting to see that initial position develop as the student encountered new information and considered the complexities of the issue.