Introducing young students to nuclear energy

Several student and faculty volunteers traveled to Belle Morris Elementary School to read a book about nuclear power to the first and second-graders and to facilitate learning activities related to nuclear energy and electricity transmission.  The book, entitled Marie’s Electric Adventure, follows a little girl (Marie) and her puppy (Einstein) to a local nuclear power plant in her quest to determine where power comes from  when her night light stops working.  Marie learns that there is nothing wrong with the power plant; a power line became disconnected during a storm, interrupting power to her night light.  The children’s book was written and published by the Duke Chapter of the North American Young Generation in Nuclear.  After reading the story, students act out different parts of the nuclear power plant (e.g., reactor, turbine, and switchyard) to better understand energy production and transmission.  Volunteers will continue to network with nearby schools for future outreach opportunities. If you would like UTNE to visit your school in the Knoxville area, contact Jamie Coble (jamie@utk.edu) or Amanda Lovelace (alovela4@utk.edu).