Students will:

1. Brainstorm about their prior knowledge of nuclear weapons and answer questions related to nuclear weapons based upon this brainstorming.
2. Formulate opinions about the use and regulation of nuclear weapons and debate these opinions using content from primary sources.
3. Conduct primary source research to learn about nuclear weapons and the international nuclear Nonproliferation
Treaty.
4. Utilize timelines and maps to learn specific information about the nuclear arms race and the development of nuclear weapons by various countries.
5. Participate in class discussions and debates using research data, facts, reasons and examples to support their point of view.
6. Compose a written response about what they learned about nuclear weapons and the Nonproliferation Treaty.

Ratified in 1968 by the United States, United Kingdom and Soviet Union, the nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT), was designed to place controls over the development, spread and use of technology that could be used to create nuclear weapons. Countries already possessing nuclear weapons could not give/sell these weapons to other countries not possessing these types of weapons and were banned from sharing the technological information necessary for the manufacture of such weapons. Countries without nuclear weapons capabilities signed a pact agreeing not to receive or manufacture these types of weapons. Since that time, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) -- the nuclear watchdog of the United Nations -- has been in charge of enforcing nonproliferation among the 188 countries that have signed the pact.

Materials Needed:

• Nuclear Weapons Discussion Handout (printer-friendly PDF)
• Nuclear Weapons Discussion Handout Key (printer-friendly PDF)
• "Hiroshima Witness" stories available at: http://www.inicom.com/hibakusha/
• Online NewsHour Nuclear Proliferation resources:
  
  Tracking Nuclear Proliferation:
  http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/international/proliferation/
  
  Nuclear Proliferation Treaties:
  http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/international/proliferation/treaties.html
  
  Nuclear Proliferation Map and Timeline:
  http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/international/proliferation/map.html
  
  
• Access to Internet and library resource materials

Part 1: Background and Opinions:

1. To create student interest in the topic of nuclear weapons, have students participate in a short brainstorming exercise. Write the words "nuclear weapons" on the overhead or board. Work for 2-3 minutes to have students discuss what they know about nuclear weapons. Record their responses on the overhead/board.

2. Distribute the Nuclear Weapons Discussion Handout (printer-friendly PDF) to each student. Have them work in pairs or small groups to answer the questions from Part 1 using their prior knowledge. Provide approximately 5 minutes for the completion of this activity.

3. Review the answers to the Part 1 questions, providing historical details from the Key provided (printer-friendly PDF).

4. Distribute and/or read a copy of "A-bomb Survivors" stories available at http://www.csi.ad.jp/ABOMB/hibakusha.html. Students will read/hear firsthand accounts of what happened during the atomic bombing of Hiroshima in Japan.

5. Once stories have been completed, have students work individually to complete the Nuclear Weapons Discussion Handout Part 2 questions. Allow 5-7 minutes for this activity.

6. Once students have answered Part 2 questions, facilitate a short discussion about their answers to each question.

7. Introduce students to the Nonproliferation Treaty using the above background information. Additional details of the treaty can also be found at:
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/international/proliferation/treaties.html

Part 2: Reviewing the NPT

8. Begin by discussing with students the role of the United Nations in reviewing the NPT. Explain that these meetings are used to address issues related to the effectiveness and enforcement of the treaty and take place every five years.

9. Using the timeline map available at: http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/international/proliferation/map.html, review how the world's supply of nuclear weapons was created during the arms race and how nuclear capabilities have broadened worldwide over time.

10. Discuss which countries have nuclear capabilities and which ones are in the process of developing them. While looking at the map, discuss questions such as:

• Are there any countries on the map that you believe should not be allowed to have nuclear weapons? Why?
• What threat does the world face from countries with unconfirmed nuclear weapons or those reportedly developing nuclear weapons (i.e., North Korea and Iran)?
• Based on this map, what are the "hotspots" in the world for the development of nuclear weapons?

1. Have students voice their opinions about nuclear issues by contacting their members of Congress and voicing their concerns and opinions about the U.S. and world nuclear programs and how they should be regulated and addressed.

2. Have students conduct research about the science of nuclear weapons and create a museum or science fair-type of display that addresses questions such as:

• How are nuclear weapons created?
• What types of damage do they cause?
• What are the long-term effects of their use?
• What are their effects on the environment? on people?
• Why should they be regulated?

3. Have students research more about the role of the United Nations and specifically the IAEA in the regulation of nuclear weapons and what is being done to ensure there will never be another use of atomic weapons as in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan.

To find out more about opportunities to contribute to this site, contact Leah Clapman at extra@newshour.org.