Introduction | The Task | The Process | Resources | Conclusion
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Atom An Introduction

Last year, a major manufacturing company in Seaside, California closed its operations. Four thousand jobs were lost and the once prosperous town of Seaside quickly slipped into recession. In an effort to revive the economy in Seaside, a group of concerned citizens has lobbied the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and convinced them that Seaside would be an ideal location for California's next nuclear power plant. The citizens of Seaside have been left with a choice. Vote to accept the powerplant and all of its benefits or reject the proposal because of the negative aspects of living with the danger of a nuclear power plant in their backyard.

Atom The Task

The city council of Seaside has decided to gather a team of specialists to investigate the opening of the power plant. Each specialist will present their report at a town meeting. It has been decided that the team will consist of six members:

  • Standard Electric Board Member who wants to convince the town people that a power plant would be a economic boon in a time of recession.
  • Save Our Sea Member (SOS) who feels that the environment would be strongly effected by the opening of the plant.
  • Nuclear Fission Engineer who is currently working for the company who won the bid to build the plant.
  • Nuclear Fusion Engineer who is working on alternative solution to fission.
  • California State Senator who is running for re-election to a forth term of office. Seaside is in her district.
  • Town Members who are interested in the economic benefit to having a nuclear power plant in their backyard, but they are concerned about the health hazard.
  • The Mayor of Seaside who wants to understand the truth behind nuclear power.
  • A moderator who needs to make sure the views of all sides are heard.

Your task in "Nuclear Power in Seaside" is to join a team and take on one of the roles listed above. You and your teammates will work together to create a Special Report for the town meeting that makes sense out of the complex issue of nuclear power.

Introduction | The Task | The Process | Resources | Conclusion |

Atom The Process

What is nuclear power? How does it produce electricity? Why are some people against using it? Think about how you feel about nuclear energy. Do you really know enough about the subject to be for or against it? Does it have a better reputation in Europe? Why? What is the current policy regarding nuclear power in the United States? Can nuclear power plants explode? What is the China Syndrome?

You live in a world where non-renewable fossil fuels dominate the energy scene. The fossil fuel energy solution is convenient, but will it satisfy the energy demands of the next century? MORE POWER ...seems to be the phrase of the day. Could it be possible that nuclear power could provide society with the solution to the energy crisis?

So if we're faced with a difficult challenge, we must:

  • work together
  • work smart
  • tap into real resources

These are the suggested strategies for success in "Nuclear Power in Seaside"

Instructions

  1. Each classroom team will be assigned a role. To make sure your team members fully understand their roles, open the dossiers containing your team's assignment.
  2. Once you have decided on which of the roles your team will investigate, open the dossier for your role by clicking on the appropriate manila envelope above.
  3. Read the contents of the dossier to get a feel for your tasks. Analyze how your role relates to the other members on the panel.
  4. Brainstorm a list of the types of resources/information that you think would be useful to gain your insights on nuclear power.
  5. Explore the "Resources" below (as well as any available at headquarters - i.e., the Library) to see which might match with your brainstormed list.
  6. Note the name of the internet/classroom resources next to your brainstormed list.
  7. Add any internet resources that you think might be valuable for your search.

On the Net: Virtual Investigation

  1. Explore the resources that you think would be most appropriate for your branch.
  2. Collect (Copy & Paste) the five artifacts (picture or text) that you think represent the topic you are exploring. Remember to keep track of the URL (the code that appears in the "Location" line in the browser).
  3. For each artifact, make sure you know why you believe it is a good example for the topic.
  4. Answer the "Status Report" and "Values Assessment" questions in your dossier.
  5. Once you have finished your search, choose the best artifacts for your topic.

As a Team of Experts

  1. Bring the best artifacts together and examine them as a team.
  2. Each expert must explain the significance of his or her artifact.

The "Action Plan"
Now you must discuss, persuade, argue, deal, and brainstorm a team action plan. As it says in your dossier, you as an expert want to find the best solution for your topic. The problem arises that what is good for business is not always good for the environment. What is good for the job rate is not always good for the health of the citizens. What's good for the state may not be good for the local community. The town is waiting for your report. We know the answers are not easy. That's why they are real!

The Special Report
If you were using Power Point, then your artifacts can be pasted onto the presentation slides. If you have not using Power Point, you may create a butcher paper mural, or you may choose to create a video project. Do not limit your presentation to only these methods of instruction. Be creative. It is your job to argue your perspective effectively.

Introduction | The Task | The Process | Resources | | Conclusion |

Atom

Resources

Use the resources below to conduct your search. There are no right answers to this exploration. See if you can add some real understanding and insight into nuclear power.

Books, Texts, and References

The Librarian has reserved several books, so you can research your project. You can not check these books out. Please feel free to use your classroom text as a reference.

  • Cohen, Bernard- Before It's To Late
  • Peat, David- Cold Fusion
  • Haines, Gail- The Great Nuclear Power
  • Kruschke, Earl- Nuclear Energy Policy
  • Pringle, Lawrence- Nuclear Energy
  • Trainer, Jennifer- Nuclear Power
  • Flavin, Christopher- Nuclear Power
  • Flavin, Christopher- Reassessing Nuclear Power
  • Turner, Tom- Wild By Law

Poems

Video Tape

A good presentation tool may be a video clip. Clips must be approved by the instructor.

Internet Resources

CNN News

Associated Press poll on nuclear power
Reactor deal watched to see if nuclear energy still competitive
Y2K countdown could mean nuke reactor shutdowns

PBS

Meltdown at Three Mile Island

Nuclear Energy Institute

Nuclear Energy Basics
Test Your Knowledge

Nuclear Information and Resource Service

Nuclear Power Plant Fuel -- a source of PLUTONIUM FOR WEAPONS?

Environmental News Network

Nuclear power can't compete, study finds

The Quick Virtual Nuclear Power Plant Tour


Boiling Water Reactor
Pressurized Water Reactor
What are the environmental effects of nuclear power?

US Department of Energy

Nuclear Age Timeline

About Energy.com

Is Nuclear Power Poised for a U.S.
Revival?

University of Missouri-Rolla American Nuclear Society

Questions and Answers

New England Coalition on Nuclear Pollution

Why NECNP opposes nuclear power

The Mining Company

A Nuclear Blind Alley

Green Peace

Pathways to Destruction

Sierra Club

Dummies Guide to Nuclear Waste Dumps & Landfills

Nuclear Physics Past, Present and Future

Nuclear Fission
Nuclear Fusion
Nuclear Politics

University of Texas

How a plant works.

Uranium Information Center

Economics of nuclear power

Stanford Formal Reasoning Group

FAQ about nuclear power

e-mail San Onofre

Ms. Shirley Freers is our contact person at the San Onofre Nuclear Power Plant. Please limit your e-mail to one message per team, so think about which questions are most vital to your presentation.

Introduction | The Task | The Process | Resources | Conclusion |

Atom Conclusion

In the United States of 1995,

we can:
Demonstrate little concern for the dwindling fossil fuels.

we can:
Take for granted the energy we so easily receive in our homes.

we can:
Continue to pollute the environment.

we can:
Take ownership in our government and vote.

we can:
Write to politicians with whom we want to share our beliefs.

we can:
Make a difference in the world.

You now have a better understanding of nuclear power than the vast majority of United States citizens. There is a saying, "Knowledge is Power." Now that you have this power, what will you do?

Introduction | The Task | The Process | Resources |Conclusion

Last revised March 20, 1999
By Keith Nuthall

email at knuthall@sdcoe.k12.ca.us