For The Energy Equation, students are now into Module 2 having just completed a comparison analysis of the Disney 1957 classic – Our Friend the Atom and a text of their choosing relating to the advantages or disadvantages of nuclear power. This activity brought together an understanding of historical context, science as a human endeavour and literary analysis features such as audience, perspectives and stylistic features such as metaphors and analogies. This has enabled us to move more deeply into understanding the historical context of the time and the threats posed by the Cold War. moving forward, we are investigating a more Australia-centric focus by researching the British nuclear testing at Maralinga through a range of stakeholders’ perspectives. This will culminate in a discussion forum, where students will role play to argue their points from the lens of their specific stakeholder.
Moving into Term 2, we will be investigating a radioactive tourism itinerary where students plan the probabilities of visiting a number of sites that have played a major role in our nuclear history. Finally, following Curiosity in the Community week in Week 3, students will be moving into the final module where they will scientifically examine or engineer a solution to our energy crisis for a sustainable future as part of a collaborative investigation.