Students in my classroom know they are not simply learning information to pass a test but are acquiring skills to change the world around them. After taking the Nuclear Proliferation Module, students recognize the power of global involvement and continue to make a difference.
Teaching at the NYC iSchool is a constant reminder that teenagers can make an enormous impact to their communities and to the world.
Students in my class work on authentic problem-solving tasks such as joining nuclear disarmament discussions on a global platform. This public school is truly diverse, teaching students from all 5 boroughs of NYC and many different backgrounds. We are a high attendance school that boasts a 100% college acceptance rate as well as a 95% graduation rate. Students are kind and excited to learn. They see learning as a tool rather than a task.
My Project
Currently, students learn about various nuclear technology including power plants and weapons. They also meet with various experts from the United Nations and even a Nagasaki bomb survivor or hibakusha. Living in New York City, few of these students realize that this was home to the Manhattan Project, placing them in the same areas as the first nuclear bomb construction. Students will use these radiation monitors to take radiation readings at various "hot spots" around the city, such as the High Line and the Apple Store in the Meatpacking District (old factory warehouses that stored nuclear materials). These levels will show students the invisible dangers of radiation and the lasting effects.
This walking field trip to various sites around the city will enable students to see how their own lives are affected by technology and can become advocates to decrease the presence of dangers in the world.
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