Behind the Scenes: Coal vs. Nuclear Power

This lesson, developed by Rebecca B. Holloway of Park Forest Middle School, connects the bridge between 'Science as Inquiry' and 'Transformation of Energy' and provides a strong link through which students can make real world connections and succeed on standardized assessments. Created using Louisiana as an example, students will create a line graph that displays the cost comparison between oil, gas, coal, and nuclear energy from the time they were born until present. Using the created graph, students will then predict which element is the most dynamically economic resource. 

The lesson, intended for students in sixth grade (including those enrolled in special education and English as a second language programs), takes 90 minutes to complete and assumes that students have prior ability to construct a line graph with all parts correctly labeled. Upon completion of the exercise, students will have developed a deeper appreciation for the field of geology, observed and analyzed the Dry Fork and Uranium One PowerPoint as a realistic example for further insight into energy usage and consumption, and assessed current trends and a case study to justify the most cost effective and safe method of electricity that will directly impact economic futures.