OBJECTIVE: Students will understand how nuclear technology can impact human and physical geography.

TASK:
Radioactive material starts leaking into the atmosphere.
How would this affect you?
(e.g. Electricity for your house? Playing in the rain? Drinking water? Eating an orange? Swimming at the beach? )
Geography Questionsthat might affect your answers:
1) What landform, waterways, and wind patternsbetween SanOnofre and South Gate affect the way the radioactivity travels?
2) What can we predict about the effects on South Gate of a 9.0 earthquake 62 miles away from San Onofre?
3) What can you do to educate your family so that they are prepared?

STEP 1:
Background Knowledge on Energy and Radioactivity:
Class will view / take notes on introductory Brainpop presentations.

Energy Sources:http://www.brainpop.com/science/energy/energysources/
Fossil Fuels: http://www.brainpop.com/technology/energytechnology/fossilfuels/
Nuclear Energy http://www.brainpop.com/technology/energytechnology/nuclearenergy/
Radioactivity: http://www.brainpop.com/science/energy/radioactivity/

GENERAL INFORMATION:
The worst nuclear accident so far took place in Chernoboyl, Ukraine. The radioactive"fallout" traveled more than 1000 miles. Some people died right away, others, who lived nearby became sick with cancer. Currently children are not allowed in "the exclusion zone" (a 19 mile radius from the center of the accident.) The concrete dome needs to be replaced soon or more radiation might leak out. The estimate for the new dome is $765,000,000 and it will take 8-9 years to complete.

Above is a picture of a schoolin Chernoboyl that had to be abandoned due to radioactivity. Down below is a picture of two Ukranians who lived near the accident. They both have thyroid cancer. Sometimes cancers do not appear until many years after radioactive exposure.

STEP 2
TEAMS of THREE
• You will now start learning in teams of 3 using a MacBook & the Geography book.
• Please be sure to switch your 3 jobs every 10 minutes!

The three jobs:
1. Information Seeker - browses internet & finds details/answers for the reporter to write
2. Vocabulary Master / Timekeeper -writes down new words and keeps track of the 10 minutes
3. Reporter -writes the details/answers down

Notes will be written on paper which should be stored in the advisory box at the end of class. Please staple multiple pages. (BTW:The whole group is responsible for their notes and final project.)

STEP 2.2
3 cities on earth that have experienced major nuclear accidents.

• Chernboyl, Ukraine 1986
• Three Mile Island, New York 1979
• Fukushima, Japan 2011

Use the Geography Book to find out more about the regions around each nuclear accident.
(New York State, Ukraine, and North East Japan) For exampel:

• What is the geography of the region?
• What crops and animals are grown? What types of industry is in the area?
• Adult literacy rate? People per doctor?
• Think of 3 questions you might have and write them down. Pair / Share your questions with your group.

Apply the same criteria for a search around the San Onofre Nuclear Plant, (Southern California)

STEP 3
Background Knowledge about economic effects:
a. Read the copy of the LA Times article "Japan quake squeezes global industry" by Don Lee
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-quake-supply-chain-20110406,0,5806342.story
b. The vocabulary in this article can be difficult. You will need a dictionary and teamwork to figure out context clues as we read along.

Teacher's note: Sample of vocabulary from (just) page A1 & A4 of the article:
• supply chain • flaw • cutting edge • silicon wafer • semiconductor • building blocks • analysts • networks • suppliers • sensors • production • crisis • crimp • shortages • alternative• sparked • logistics• fail-safe • scramble • vulnerable • tendency • centralize • aftermath • supply system • inventories • profitable • margin • component •

Comprehension Questions for the above LA TIMES article.
1. What percent of computer chips might be affected by the earthquake damage?
2. What kinds of car companies and workers are effected by the quake?

Thinking Questions
1. Explain how the title connects to the meaning of the article.
2. Explain what a "supply chain" is and what flaw is exposed by the disaster.
3. Look at the back page column 1, paragraphs 5-6 and column 2 paragraph 7.
Draw a picture for each paragraph that show what the written words describe.
4. From your drawing and from reading the paragraphs, predict how the damage to
the Fukushima reactor will effect the prices of electricity, water, and gas.
5. Explain your answer.

Speaking of supply chains...Where does your food come from?
http://www.education.com/science-fair/article/where-does-your-food-come-from/

STEP 4
1. Read and take notes on at least two articles each about the cities that have experienced a nuclear accident.
2. Each member of your group should come up with two questions that are not answered in the article.
3. Put the group member's name by the questions.

Chernobyl, Ukraine:
http://www.iaea.org/newscenter/features/chernobyl-15/cherno-faq.shtml

http://www.latimes.com/health/boostershots/la-heb-chernobyl-accident-anniversary-health-20110426,0,7577740.story

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2002/07/0711_020711_yuccaspikes.html

http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2006/04/inside-chernobyl/stone-text

http://mirroreyes.wordpress.com/2010/02/16/chernobyl-and-pripyat/

Fukushima, Japan:

http://www.sunstar-solutions.com/japan_radiation.htm

http://news.nick.com/04/2011/21/25-years-later-nuclear-disaster-affects-kids-who-werent-even-born-yet/

http://news.lucaswhitefieldhixson.com/

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2011/04/13/fukushimas_hidden_fallout?page=full

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-quake-supply-chain-20110406,0,5806342.story

http://blogs.pe.com/news/digest/2011/04/san-onofre-mock-nuclear-accide.html

3 Mile Island, USA:

http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/inf36.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/three-mile-island-legacy-of-a-nuclear-accident/2011/03/19/ABqUicx_gallery.html#photo=4

http://photos.denverpost.com/mediacenter/2011/03/a-look-at-three-mile-island-the-worst-u-s-nuclear-accident/

http://www.homeofsolarenergy.com/nuclear-symbol.html

STEP 5a
Search out images and information on your own using Cherynobyl, Fukushima, and San Onofre as part of your search terms.

STEP 5b
Locate either Cherynobyl (Ukraine,) Fukushima (Japan,) and 3 Mile Island (New York,) on google maps.
Choose one of them to make a compare and contrast chart with San Onofre (California)

For example: Research how far away from Fukushima what the Japanese government has declared:
a) it is not safe for people to live
b) it is not safe for people to grow crops or milk cows
c) Compare how far away from Fukushima what the Japanese government has declared "safe" and how far away from Fukushima what the American government has declared "safe."

d) Locate your map of San Onofre, compare the safe zones if an earthquake made the containment building open up like the one in Fukushima. What areas would not be safe? What areas would be safe for crops? This site might help you calculate distance: http://www.travelmath.com

STEP 6a
Look back at your answers in Step 1. Predict the effects a 8.0 San Diego earthquake would have on life in Southern California.
For instance:
- How would closure of the 5 Freeway in that area affect travel to San Diego and Tijuana?
- What products might not be delivered in and out of Long Beach?
- What would the effect be on LEGOLAND, the SAN DIEGO ZOO, and SEA WORLD?

STEP 6b
Make a T-chart of your daily life. On the left side describe what you would do in a normal day from waking up to going to sleep. On the right side predict how a nuclear accident would change your life for the next 6 months.

STEP 7a
Are you prepared for a disaster?
http://www.lucaswhitefieldhixson.com/importance-disaster-preparedness-personal-story-intel-hub

STEP 8a
Regarding a nuclear accident.
Review the FEMA suggestions below and also this website ~http://www.ki4u.com/guide.htm

FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) suggestions:
If you are advised to remain indoors:

    * Turn off the air conditioner, ventilation fans, furnace, and other air intakes.
    * Go to a basement or other underground area, if possible.
    * Do not use the telephone unless absolutely necessary.

If you expect you have been exposed to nuclear radiation:

    * Change clothes and shoes.
    * Put exposed clothing in a plastic bag.
    * Seal the bag and place it out of the way.
    * Take a thorough shower.

Keep food in covered containers or in the refrigerator. Food not previously covered should be washed before being put in to containers.

After a Nuclear Power Plant Emergency

Seek medical treatment for any unusual symptoms, such as nausea, that may be related to radiation exposure.

Follow the instructions for recovering from a disaster in Part 5.

STEP 8b
Using FEMA's information, and http://www.ki4u.com/guide.htm and your original answers for your family's disaster plans (step 7a); prepare a disaster hand book that would help your family be safer if a nuclear accident occurred at San Onofre.

The handbook should include:
- a title, table of contents, glossary, copyright date, and index
- Various instructions for your family regarding issues such as radiation exposure, saftey precautions, supply useage and location, phone use, loss of electricity, evacuation plans, etc.

Updates:
7/05 -Take a look at http://news.lucaswhitefieldhixson.com/p/supplies.html  for supply ideas.

Student Responses
Arlene's Booklet

STEP 9
Map Making

a) Each group will be responsible for locating either Cherynobyl, Fukushima, or 3 Mile Island on regional maps and later a world map,

b) Use the geography book and internet to find out what the major crops and industries
are and add them to your map using the key.

c) add major geographic features like mountains, rivers, lakes, highways etc.

• Are there any products shipped to other countries? Investigate, explain.
• Landmarks, famous buildings, entertainment centers???

d) Add a key to your maps with symbols that identify:
- the nuclear exclusion zone (where is not safe to be included)
- human effects (e.g.- deaths, evacuations, non safe zones, cancer, etc.)
- livestock effects (e.g.- reindeer, sheep, cows, chickens, wolves, cropland)
- vegetable and fruit contamination

e) Repeat a-d above for San Onofre so you can compare the two.

FUKUSHIMA ~ SAN ONOFRE Connections:

Using Google, find out the radius of the nuclear exclusion zone in Cherynobyl & Fukushima and project a nuclear exclusion zone for San Onofre.

GEOGRAPHY QUeSTIONS-
How does wind direction and speed affect how radiation spreads?
How does radiation effect rainfall?
Where is the worst place on land to be during a Tsunami? The best place?
What other questions can you think of related to disasters and geography?