Lesson Plan 1:  "No Nukes is Good Nukes"

Grade Level:    6th, 7th, 8th grades

Subjects:     Reading, Science, Social Studies, Computers

Learner Outcomes:     The students will be able to:

        1. Work cooperatively in groups to read and research a topic on the Internet.
        2. Practice oral and silent reading and apply comprehension skills.
        3. Use a word processor to type a report.
        4. Practice oral communication skills by presenting their findings to the class.
        5. Use the Internet and electronic mail to take quizzes.

Duration of Lesson:     Three   50 minute class periods

Materials:  Materials needed to complete this lesson are as follows:

        Text:  “Phoenix Rising, by Karen Hesse  (classroom set of books)
        Computers with access to the Internet.
        E-mail account for each student.  (there are lots of free e-mail services such as hotmail, Yahoo mail, etc.  but the best we have found for kids is ed-mail,
        which is a part of The lightspan Network.   It is excellent because kids cannot get "spam."  It is the safest e-mail available for kids.)  Your School does not
        have to subscribe to lightspan in order for you to use ed-mail.

Technology Tools / Courseware:
Computer and Printer / Internet
   On-line encyclopedia

Procedures:

Instruct students how to use their e-mail accounts.  Have them practice e-mailing each other and putting names in their address books.  If using ed-mail, EACH STUDENT MUST HAVE THE TEACHER'S E-MAIL ADDRESS IN HIS/HER ADDRESS BOOK.
Divide students into groups of four or five each for reading and research.  Grouping is heterogeneous.  Explain that Phoenix Rising is a novel about the aftermath of a nuclear accident and how it changes the lives of an ordinary family.
Assign reading and research topics to the groups.  Chapters 1 through 6 will be covered in this first lesson.
Research topics are:
    a. Nuclear Energy
    b. Nuclear reactors
    c. Chernobyl
    d. Three Mile Island
    e. Radiation sickness
    f.  Radioactive fallout
    g.  Fallout shelters
(See research page for suggested sites and links for each of the above topics.)

Help groups get organized and decide on a division of labor within the group.  Not every student is required to participate in the oral presentation, but each student is responsible for the readings, the quizzes and for doing his/her job in the preparation of the report.
Divide time between reading and research.  Students should be able to read 6 chapters an two days.  The third day could be used for the quiz and for research, or some time each day could be set aside for research.  In any case, remind students there will be a quiz on chapters 1-6 on the third
day.

Special education students may work with stronger readers in groups.
The teacher may need to confer with Sp. Ed. Teacher.
Use modified quizzes for Special Ed students.

Discuss the Cold War.  Have students talk with parents/grandparents to see what they remember about the days of the Cold War.  (Social Studies)
What supplies in what quantities would be needed for people to stay in shelters for an extended period of time after a nuclear accident or a nuclear war?  (math)
Some students might research the effects of a "nuclear winter" on the earth.  (science)
Suggested Readings, The Cold War, an Illustrated History, by Jeremy Isaacs,   Dark Sun, by Richard Rhodes

Students will get a daily grade for participation
Students will take an e-mail quiz on the first six chapters of the book.

        B. Language Arts Standards:
        4. Gathers and uses information for research purposes.
        5.   Demonstrates competence in the general skills and strategies of the reading process.
        8.   Demonstrates competence in speaking and listening as tools for learning.

West Virginia Instructional Goals and Objectives:

Grade 6 Language Arts
6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4, 6.16, 6.21, 6.26, 6.30, 6.33, 6.53, 6.54, 6.59, 6.60
Computer Technology
6.154, 6.155, 6.157, 6.160
Social Studies
6.19, 6.55, 6.56, 6.57
Science
6.3, 6.13, 6.26, 6.32, 6.79, 6.81

Grade 7 Language Arts
7.2, 7.3, 7.57.7, 7.19, 7.23, 7.24, 7.26, 7.31, 7.51, 7.52, 7.57, 7.64, 7.65
Computer Technology
7.164, 7.166, 7.169, 7.172, 7.173
Social Studies
7.32, 7.53, 7.54
Science
7.6, 7.26, 7.62, 7.75, 7.77
Grade 8 Language Arts
8.2, 8.3, 8.5, 8.14, 8.15, 8.16, 8.20, 8.22, 8.26, 8.33, 8.50, 8.51, 8.53, 8.150, 8.151
Science
8.17, 8.26, 8.81, 8.83

Job / Career Clusters: State Department Career Cluster Codes

SN-     Science/Natural Resources
ET-      Engineering/Technical
HE -     Health Services
HU -    Human Services

TEACHER NOTE: Have each of your student's names in your e-mail address book.  you can make up the quiz and send it to all your students at once.  You cannot use ed mail for this unless you have less than fifty students.  There is a spam block on ed mail that will prevent you from sending it to more than fifty people at one time.  Try using Yahoo mail.

References:

Text:   Phoenix Rising, by Karen Hesse, Penguin Books USA Inc. 375 Hudson St. New York, NY 10014 c.1994
The Lightspan Network/Compton's on-line Encyclopedia
Computer Internet.
 
 

Lumberport Middle School