Unit 8 – Nuclear Chemistry

Karen McPherson
Rio Rancho High School - New Mexico

2nd Semester, 4th Progress Report 

      In layered curriculum each student is given more control over their work load and their grade.  Below are 4 levels of assignments, each assignment being worth a certain number of points.  Students will complete assignments at 90% mastery, and get their teacher’s signature as confirmation. Once a student has completed 8 or more assignments from a level, they are allowed to move on to higher levels.  The assignments get more challenging as the level increases.  Any assignment with an asterisk (*) next to the Assignment Code is available in the file drawer on the bottom right of my desk (help yourself). 
 
 

 
D - Layer Activities – Complete 8 at 90% mastery to move on to C - Layer 
Code Type Assignment Points Signature
Nuke.1.D * Worksheet Calculate your background radiation level. 2  
Nuke.2.D * Worksheet Complete # of subatomic particles diagram.  3  
Nuke.3.D * Worksheet Worksheet over Half-Life.  6  
Nuke.4.D * Worksheet Worksheet over Decay reactions.   3  
Nuke.5.D * Read Read the article over the Manhattan Project and answer the questions.  7  
Nuke.6.D * Read Read the article over the Becquerel and Curie and answer the questions.  7  
Nuke.7.D Write  Write 1 page essay over Radon in houses. 7  
Nuke.8.D Write Write 1 page essay over Fusion and Fission. 8  
Nuke.9.D Diagram Draw a diagram of the WIPP site. 4  
Nuke.10.D Draw Make a poster over types of radiation and blocking radiation. 3  
Total from D - Layer =                             (50 points possible)                   
 
C - Layer Activities – Complete 8 at 90% mastery to move on to B - Layer 
Code Type Assignment Points Signature
Nuke.1.C * Worksheet Worksheet over Decay Reactions. 1  
Nuke.2.C * Math Worksheet over Half-Life Calculations.  3  
Nuke.3.C * Read Read the article over radio isotopic dating and answer the questions. 2  
Nuke.4.C * Read Read the article over radioactive medical tracers and answer the questions.  2  
Nuke.5.C Write Write a poem, song, or creative prose about the atomic bomb. 2  
Nuke.6.C Write Write a 2 page essay over the WIPP site, radiation blocking mechanisms, and storage. 3  
Nuke.7.C Brochure Design an instructional brochure over the design of a fission power plant. 1  
Nuke.8.C PowerPoint Make a PowerPoint presentation about 8 historic nuclear meltdowns.  Include when, where, and why. 2  
Nuke.9.C Draw Make a poster over Nuclear Fission. 2  
Nuke.10.C Draw Make a poster over Nuclear Fusion. 2  
Total from C - Layer =                            (20 points possible)
 
 
 
 
B - Layer Activities – Complete 8 at 90% mastery to move on to A - Layer 
Code Type Assignment Points Signature
Nuke.1.B * Worksheet Complete the Uranium Decay Graph. 1  
Nuke.2.B * Math Worksheet over Decay Reactions. 1  
Nuke.3.B * Math Worksheet over Half-Life Calculations. 2  
Nuke.4.B * Worksheet Complete the Stability Graph Worksheet. 1  
Nuke.5.B Letter Pretend you are Marie Curie, Becquerel, or Einstein, and write a letter to someone you know telling them about your most famous discovery (development to implementation). 1  
Nuke.6.B * Read / Write Read the opinion pieces about the WIPP site, and write a 1 page response. 1  
Nuke.7.B Book Create a Children’s Book about either: Fusion, Fission, or the Manhattan Project. 2  
Nuke.8.B Book Create a Children’s Book about radio isotopic dating. 2  
Nuke.9.B Brochure Make an Instructional Brochure about the hydrogen bomb and the atomic bomb. 1  
Nuke.10.B Interview Interview a local Radon testing agency. 3  
Total from B - Layer =                            (15 points possible)
 
A - Layer Activities – Complete at 90% mastery
Code Type Assignment Points Signature
Nuke.1.A * Math Worksheet over Half-Life Calculations. 2  
Nuke.2.A Math Write your own worksheet over the Half-Life and Decay.  (at least 10 questions) 3  
Nuke.3.A Write Write a 2 pg. essay over a topic from this unit. 2  
Nuke.4.A Interview Interview someone who works with nuclear chemistry. (Sandia labs, Professors, Radiologists, Nuclear Engineers, etc.) 3  
Nuke.5.A Study Guide Create a study guide over ALL material from this unit. 5  
Total from A - Layer =                            (15 points possible)
 
Total from All - Layers =                          (100 points possible)
 
 
 

      If an assignment is not 90% correct, the student will not receive credit until they have improved it.  See grading rubric (in your notes and posted around the room) for exact requirements for each assignment type.  The student must complete all assignments in the unit to receive a 100% on their daily grade.  Percentages change for each chapter depending on both how extensive the daily work is, and how many labs are included.  For this unit the percentage breakdown is:  40% daily, 20% Lab, 40% Test. 

      All assignments must be completed and checked off in class the day before the test.  None will be accepted on test day or after the test day.  Assignments can be checked off at any time during the unit (so do them early and give them to me).  This sheet (with my signatures) must be turned in with your unit test.