Curated OER
Atomic Energy
In this science instructional activity, learners use basic scientific concepts to complete the series of puzzles while focusing upon atomic energy by exploring alpha, beta, and gamma decay.
Curated OER
How Old Is Mike?
Students examine the absolute dating of fossils, they use a list of names and ages to determine the difference between relative age and absolute age. They explore the relative age and absolute age of people and of fossils.
Cornell University
Isotope Rummy
Thanks to this game, teaching isotopes will never be the same. Physical science scholars work their way toward understanding isotopes in an entertaining game. Pupils play rummy in groups while practicing good sportsmanship and creating...
Texas State Energy Conservation Office
Investigation: Splitting Atoms
In a simple activity, physical scientists model nuclear fission using a droplet of oil. This can be used alone in a unit on different types of energy, or as part of the energy conservation unit produced by the Texas State Energy...
Curated OER
Lizard Lab
In this detailed and comprehensive multi-day activity, budding evolutionary biologists use real data from lizard populations in the Canary Islands to examine evolution and natural selection.
Curated OER
Isotopes of Pennies
Students demonstrate that isotopes of an element have different masses. They illustrate atomic mass and neutrons. The periodic table is examined in length. Display of a collection of atoms is surveyed.
Curated OER
Radiation Crossword Puzzle
In this radiation instructional activity, students complete a crossword puzzle by figuring out the vocabulary terms associated with the 25 clues given.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Radioactive Decay Calculator
Students will use this online Radioactive Decay Calculator to compute radioactive decay, timed decay, and timed solid disposal for a databank containing 116 isotopes. This calculator also features University of British Columbia disposal...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Teaching Radioactive Decay & Radiometric Dating
A laboratory activity that teaches the difficult concept of radioactive decay by means of a fluid (shampoo) flowing through holes from an upper to a lower beaker. Using the exponential decay equation, young scholars then 'date' the...
Other
University of Waikato: Science Learning Hub: Absolute Dating
Explains what absolute dating is as compared to relative dating and how they can work together. The characteristics of several different radiometric methods are compared. Includes three short videos and an interactive where students...
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Earth Science: Radiometric Dating
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Elaborates on radioactive decay as a tool for determining the age of certain minerals and other materials, including the limits of the technique.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Earth Science: Radiometric Dating
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] How scientists can use radioactive decay to find the age of certain materials.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Mcat: Physical Processes: Atomic Nucleus: Decay Graphs and Half Lives Article
Explains how scientists can tell when radiation has been leaked, how to read a decay graph, what we mean by a half-life, and what carbon dating is.
Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments: Numb3 Rs How to Get a Date for Episode
Students will learn how to estimate time of death by using a lab that models carbon dating and radioactive decay. Activity pages complete with calculator keystroke instructions and screenprints are included in this lesson plan based on...
California State University
California State University Virtual Courseware Project: Radiocarbon Dating
Use interactive graphs and other diagrams to answer questions about carbon dating.
University of Colorado
University of Colorado: Ph Et Interactive Simulations: Radioactive Dating Game
Learn about different types of radiometric dating, such as carbon dating. Understand how decay and half-life work to enable radiometric dating. Play a game that tests your ability to match the percentage of the dating element that...
University of Colorado
University of Colorado: Ph Et Interactive Simulations: Radioactive Dating Game
Learn about different types of radiometric dating, such as carbon dating. Understand how decay and half life work to enable radiometric dating. Play a game that tests your ability to match the percentage of the dating element that...
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Half Life
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] In this module, students will explore the radioactive decay process in terms of balanced nuclear equations to discover the concept of half-life.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Radioactive Dating: Looking at Half Lives Using M&ms
In this activity, students gain a better understanding of radioactive dating and half-lives by using M&Ms to demonstrate the idea of radioactive decay. They will be able to see how scientists can determine the age of rocks by looking...
American Geosciences Institute
American Geosciences Institute: Earth Science Week: Dating Popcorn
In this activity, students use popcorn to simulate the process scientists use to date layers in an ice core.
![Story Behind the Science: Just How Old Is Earth? [Pdf] Article](https://d15y2dacu3jp90.cloudfront.net/images/attachment_defaults/resource/large/FPO-knovation.png "Story Behind the Science: Just How Old Is Earth? [Pdf] Article")
Story Behind the Science
Story Behind the Science: Just How Old Is Earth? [Pdf]
Article describing efforts in the 19th and 20th centuries to determine the Earth's age, particularly using naturally occurring radioactivity. It notes that scientific disciplines frequently overlap in the work they do. Questions are...
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Physics Simulation: Marie Curie's Classroom
[Free Registration/Login Required] Study the basics of radioactive decay and the properties of atomic nuclei in Marie Curie's laboratory and classroom. A PDF worksheet and a video tutorial are also available. [3:32]
Other
Nrc: Unit 2 the Uses of Radiation
A lesson plan on the uses of radiation in science, industry, and medicine. Gives many household examples of how radiation is used. Learners will also learn about the NRC's role in regulating radioactive materials.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Radioactive Half Life
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Explains radioactive half-life and radioactive dating, and demonstrates how to solve problems with each.