Nuclear Chemistry Card Sort

Annette Gillespie, Ashely Gilomen, Sarah Johnson, Stephanie Kimberlin, Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education

Students describe the basic principles of nuclear chemistry, discern between diagrams and representations of nuclear equations and processes, and use context clues to correctly categorize nuclear events.

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Notes from our reviewers

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The activity is designed to be added on to the beginning or end of a separate curriculum on nuclear energy. It is well-designed and complete as a review or introductory activity, but does not have any background or supplementary information to support its use without additional resources. It would be a nice addition to an existing nuclear energy unit. Can be used as a pre and/or post test for a unit on Nuclear Chemistry or a review. Does not address fundamental climate change issues but does address fundamental energy issues. The parent site does have a more extensive curriculum on nuclear energy to pair with this resource (eg. The Harnessed Atom lessons) Can be modified for virtual classes.
This activity is intended to be either an introduction to or review of nuclear energy concepts. This activity is designed to complement more in-depth lessons on nuclear energy. The activity does not contain any background materials and would not work well as a stand-alone activity. Student groups work together to place pre-printed cards onto a Venn diagram of fission-fusion-nuclear decay. Passed initial science review - expert science review pending.
This is not a stand-alone activity; it is a hands-on, small-group activity that is designed to be either an introduction to or review of nuclear energy concepts, to be used in conjunction with other curricula. Students should have other sources of information on nuclear energy concepts. It is a useful activity but not a complete one.