This is our catalog of courses. We will occasionally adjust the course listing to reflect the addition of new courses and the retirement of others.
Chernobyl, Fukushima, and more. Join this modern history course to learn about the most fascinating and disastrous accidents in the history of nuclear and atomic energy.
Total classes: 8
Prerequisite: None
Suggested grade level: 9th to 12th grade. 7th- to 8th-grade students also welcome (homework adjusted for middle school students)
Suggested credit: 2/3 semester History or Modern History
Description
Nuclear and atomic power has long been known as a potent source of energy with interesting properties. However, over the course of learning about these properties and harnessing this energy, a host of fascinating mistakes and accidents have occurred. This course traces a brief history of mankind’s relationship with nuclear and atomic power, giving special attention to the accidents which have occurred, including Three-Mile Island, Chernobyl, and Fukushima.
Outline
Day 1: Introduction and overview of syllabus and assignments
Day 2: “We Discover Fire”
Day 3: “Danger Beyond Comprehension”
Day 4: Fascinating Goof-Ups
Day 5: Windscale and Kyshtym
Day 6: The Military, and Three-Mile Island
Day 7: Chernobyl
Day 8: Fukushima
Materials and Homework
Course materials: Everything is provided free by the instructor.
Homework: Daily, optional review quizzes based on classroom lectures and discussions, worth bonus points. Students will compose a 2-3 page exercise in analyzing a historical event in nuclear history. NOTE: Middle school students will instead write a 1-2 page critical analysis of the select reading.
Important Dates
Class dates: Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, July 31, August 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, and 10, 2023
Starting time: 2:30 PM Eastern (1:30 Central; 12:30 Mountain; 11:30 Pacific)
Duration of each class: 55 minutes
