Physics of the Universe · Week 19 · Nuclear Processes and Earth's History
Atoms That Change
Modeling radioactive decay and reflecting on which parts of ourselves change and which stay stable.
- Students will
- Students model radioactive decay with a half life table, describe how the nucleus changes, and compare it to personal change and stability.
- SEL skill
- Sort which parts of yourself change and which stay stable, with curiosity
- What it looks like
- Students use emotions to think by noticing curiosity and deciding which parts of themselves change or stay stable.
- Content focus
- Atoms that change
- Format
- Partner exchange
Self-awareness
Self-awareness means paying attention to your own thoughts, emotions, and strengths and how they affect your choices. More self-awareness activities
What you get
A teacher guide with what to say, step by step, plus student pages and a supports page for students with diverse learning needs, including those with IEPs. Print or Project it, or assign it in Google Forms and Google Docs for Google Classroom. Your first 10 activities are free.
Standards
- HS-PS1-8: High School Physical Science performance expectation
- Science and engineering practice: SEP2 Developing and using models
- Crosscutting concept: CCC5 Energy and matter
- Literacy in science: RST.11-12.4 Determine the meaning of symbols, key terms, and domain specific words in a scientific context.
- Traditional course: Physics
Fits these textbook chapters
- Physics Techbook, Concept 2.2: Nuclear Forces
- Physics Techbook, Concept 4.1: Nuclear Physics
- Physics Techbook, Concept 4.2: Radiometric Dating
- Inspire Physics, Unit 6: Nuclear and Particle Physics
- California HMH Science Dimensions: Physics in the Universe, Unit 6: Nuclear Processes
Textbook names are used only to help you find activities that fit what you teach. RoseThread Connect is not affiliated with these publishers.
More self-awareness activities for Physics of the Universe
- The Physicist in Me Self-awarenessStudents list the motion questions they wonder about, from skateboards to dust devils, and name the scientist identity they bring.
- Electric Charges Self-awarenessModeling attraction and repulsion between charges and reflecting on what attracts and repels us in hard situations.
- Energy Is Conserved Self-awarenessCalculating energy changes in a system and tracking where students' emotional energy goes during a school day.
- Semester Reflection: My Energy Story Self-awarenessStudents write an energy conservation story of their semester, showing where their effort went and what it built.
Previous: Semester Reflection: My Energy Story · Next: Dating the Earth
RoseThread Connect activities are drafted with the help of AI and shaped by educators. Students never have to share anything personal. Our five SEL skills are informed by CASEL's SEL Framework; RoseThread Learning is not affiliated with or endorsed by CASEL.