Nuclear Energy Roleplay
Participants learn about nuclear energy by role-playing the pathway in a CANDU (Canadian Deuterium-Uranium) nuclear reactor.
This workshop discusses topics which can lead to feelings of eco-anxiety among volunteers, educators and youth if not presented in a thoughtful manner. The most important things to remember are to be honest, hopeful, developmentally appropriate, and action oriented. This workshop was created with these guidelines in mind. For more details, refer to the volunteer resource, Being Conscious of Eco-Anxiety.
What You Need
Materials
- Nuclear Energy Roleplay – Roles (1 per group)
- Art supplies (optional)
- Props (optional)
Guide:
What To Do
- Before the activity, explain the concepts of atoms and energy. Ask the participants if they have ever heard of nuclear energy before. Adjust the discussion based on their previous knowledge.
What are atoms?
All matter (everything that exists) is made from tiny pieces called atoms. An atom has a center called a nucleus (made of even smaller pieces called neutrons and protons) and small moving particles that surround the nucleus called electrons.
You can think of atoms as LEGO bricks – they come in different colours, shapes and sizes. This affects how and where we can use them when building things. This is just how atoms have different amounts of neutrons, protons and electrons that make them different from another atom. This affects how they interact with other atoms.
What is energy?
Energy is the ability of an object to do work. There are many different types of energy. The two main types are kinetic energy (movement) and potential energy (stored energy or the energy that an item can use).
Think of a car – the gasoline in the car has a lot of potential energy. When we press on the gas pedal, the potential energy of the gas is turned into kinetic energy – which makes the car move!
What is nuclear energy?
Nuclear energy is the energy that is found in the nucleus of an atom. This energy is released when the atom is split apart in a reaction called nuclear fission. This creates two smaller nuclei (plural of nucleus).
In this activity, we are going to learn how nuclear energy can be used to create the electricity to power our homes!
- Briefly explain how nuclear power plants work. Optionally, you may want to show the image on page 1:
Nuclear power plants use the energy from nuclear fission to create electricity! It is a process that begins with a radioactive element called uranium found underground. The uranium is processed and placed in a nuclear reactor. This is where nuclear fission, splitting apart of the atoms, happens. The energy from this reaction heats up the water and turns it into steam, which spins a turbine connected to a generator. This generator creates electricity, which travels by big power lines to our homes and school!
In this activity, you will work in groups to learn more about the different steps to creating nuclear energy. You will have 20 minutes to come up with an interesting way of explaining your role to the other groups.
- Ask the educator to separate the participants into 6 groups. Give each group a role from Nuclear Energy Roleplay Information Sheet.
- Each group will be responsible for one role. They can create a reenactment, song, dance, artwork (if supplies are available) or story to explain their role.
- Allow the participants to read or learn about the other roles, as it may help them understand what is happening.
- They may choose to focus on one part of their role but should still be able to explain the rest.
- Use the prompts on the following page to guide participants as needed.
- Allow at least 20 minutes for the participants to prepare.
- Participants will present their role to the rest of the class in order, beginning with uranium and ending with the generator.
- Note: not all group members have to participate in the presentation. The purpose is for everyone to contribute to the interpretation of the role.
- Use the “What is Happening”, “Why Does it Matter” and “Investigate Further” information below to debrief the activity with the group.
Action Prompts
The following are examples of interpretations/action prompts for each role.
Role 1: Uranium
- Act as miners harvesting uranium.
- Draw a picture of the process of turning uranium into fuel bundles.
Role 2: Nuclear Fission
- Act as neutrons and uranium atoms undergoing nuclear fission.
- Use items or props to demonstrate nuclear fission or a nuclear chain reaction.
Role 3: Moderators
- Create a dance showing heavy water surrounding the nuclear fuel bundles
Role 4: Boilers
- Sing their role starting off with silly voice for the radioactive water, that gets higher in pitch as the water becomes steam.
Role 5: Turbine
- Spin as a turbine with their hands out as the blades. Some participants can be the steam being pushed through the pipes.
Role 6: Generator
- Create a dance to show electricity traveling from the generator to the power lines.
- Create a comic strip about the electricity changing and moving along its path.
Discovery
Nuclear energy is created from a process called nuclear fission. Nuclear fission happens when atoms, like uranium, are broken apart. This releases a lot of energy, which is used to heat water and create steam. The steam rises and spins a turbine, producing electricity. The steam is cooled back into water and reused to create more energy.
There are many different types of nuclear reactors around the world. This activity focuses on the process found in CANDU (Canadian Deuterium-Uranium) reactors. CANDU is a pressurized heavy water reactor that uses heavy water as a coolant and natural uranium as a fuel. This type of nuclear reactor was developed in Canada and is used in many countries around the world.
Nuclear energy is a form of green energy, meaning that it does not produce greenhouse gases. Greenhouse gases act like an invisible blanket for the planet and trap heat from the sun. Human activity, like burning fossil fuels, releases excess greenhouse gases into the atmosphere and is causing the planet to heat up faster than it should, resulting in changes to the earth’s weather and precipitation patterns. This is called climate change. Generating electricity from renewable and green energy sources is a way of reducing our contribution to climate change.
Nuclear energy does come with serious risks. Nuclear energy produces radioactive waste that is harmful to the environment and human health. A small percentage of this waste will remain radioactive for hundreds of years. This waste needs to be safely stored far away from living things and the environment. Most of the waste is stored deep underground.
Nuclear power plants have many safety features to protect the surrounding environment and communities. However, when accidents happen, it has significant effects on the environment and human health.
The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are calls to action to make the world a better place. It calls to “end poverty and inequality, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy health, justice and prosperity”. The topics discussed in this workshop relate to the following SDGs:
- SDG #7- Affordable and Clean Energy
- SDG #13 - Climate Action
Do more research or talk about the benefits and risks of nuclear energy. Have participants organize their thoughts in a Pros and Cons Organizer.
What's Happening?
Nuclear energy is created from a process called nuclear fission. Nuclear fission happens when atoms, like uranium, are broken apart. This releases a lot of energy, which is used to heat water and create steam. The steam rises and spins a turbine, producing electricity. The steam is cooled back into water and reused to create more energy.
There are many different types of nuclear reactors around the world. This activity focuses on the process found in CANDU (Canadian Deuterium-Uranium) reactors. CANDU is a pressurized heavy water reactor that uses heavy water as a coolant and natural uranium as a fuel. This type of nuclear reactor was developed in Canada and is used in many countries around the world.
Why Does it Matter?
Nuclear energy is a form of green energy, meaning that it does not produce greenhouse gases. Greenhouse gases act like an invisible blanket for the planet and trap heat from the sun. Human activity, like burning fossil fuels, releases excess greenhouse gases into the atmosphere and is causing the planet to heat up faster than it should, resulting in changes to the earth’s weather and precipitation patterns. This is called climate change. Generating electricity from renewable and green energy sources is a way of reducing our contribution to climate change.
Nuclear energy does come with serious risks. Nuclear energy produces radioactive waste that is harmful to the environment and human health. A small percentage of this waste will remain radioactive for hundreds of years. This waste needs to be safely stored far away from living things and the environment. Most of the waste is stored deep underground.
Nuclear power plants have many safety features to protect the surrounding environment and communities. However, when accidents happen, it has significant effects on the environment and human health.
Investigate Further
The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are calls to action to make the world a better place. It calls to “end poverty and inequality, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy health, justice and prosperity”. The topics discussed in this workshop relate to the following SDGs:
- SDG #7- Affordable and Clean Energy
- SDG #13 - Climate Action
Do more research or talk about the benefits and risks of nuclear energy. Have participants organize their thoughts in a Pros and Cons Organizer.