Chernobyl: Tracing Movement of Radiation
By tracing the movement of radiation released during an accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, students will see how air pollution, like particulate matter, can become a global issue. Students will name and locate countries where radiation traveled to and describe how air pollution travels from one area to another.
materials:
student copy of Explosion at Chernobyl
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Pollution Points handout
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sticky dots or stickers to mark map
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map of Europe
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world map
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atlas of encyclopedias
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procedure:
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1.Students may work individually or in groups. Discuss with the students how air pollution travels. Pass out the Explosion at Chernobyl information sheet . The students can read and discuss the article.
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2.Using the Pollution Points handout, students will plot the course the radiation took each day. Points should be plotted numerically and in sequence, chronologically. (Be sure to make reference materials available to locate countries.)
Extension:Split the class into two teams. Each team will work together to map the pollution points. Mark Chernobyl's location with a sticker. The mapping will start with someone from the first team reading pollution point location number 1 out loud. He/she will have 40 seconds to find that city on the map and mark it with a sticker. Team members can help the player by giving directional tips, but they can NOT point to any specific location. If the team member finds the location point within 40 seconds, that team gets one point. If not, the other team gets a chance to find the correct location. Teams take turns locating the points until all 29 points have been mapped.