Lesson One
Lesson One
The Clean Factor
About This Lesson
What is energy poverty and how does nuclear energy make a difference? In this lesson, suitable for grades 7-12, students will research what energy poverty looks like in the world and how microreactors and advancements in nuclear energy could impact these areas and offer possible solutions.
Materials Needed:
Procedure:
1. Discuss the standard definition of poverty (the state of being extremely poor). Brainstorm other definitions of poverty, including the state of being inferior in quality or insufficient in amount.
2. Ask students if they’ve ever heard of energy poverty. Define the term (lacking access to reliable and affordable energy sources). Brainstorm ways energy poverty could affect day-to-day life (heating home, lack of street lights, not being able to cook, not able to do homework, not having clean air, etc).
3. Share Energy Poverty, A Conversation with Energy Expert Zainub Dungarwalla. Students may either read this as a class, on their own, or for homework.
4. Watch Tomorrow’s World Today, Episode 408: “The Clean Factor”.
5. After reading the article and watching the video, students will discuss three ways that nuclear energy could help with energy poverty.
6. Distribute Handout: “What Is Energy Poverty?”
7. Discuss findings as a class.