Unit Description

This unit has been designed to last one week. It can be extended or shortened depending upon the needs of the teacher and the environment of the classroom. Students will be working in groups and will be working within their groups for most of the week. They will be required to pace themselves and get the appropriate tasks completed by the end of the time allotted.

The finale of the project has students meet together as a class and creating a nuclear testing summit, where a compromise must be reached within the time frame of the class. Each group would present its arguments and then an open session would take place where each team could argue its case. It will be important for students to know that their time is limited and to be fully prepared for the summit they must utilize their time wisely.

Components

1. Introduce Nuclear Testing
   This time should focus on the history of nuclear testing to provide a backdrop to the project they are about to begin. Provided here is a time line and look at the advent of nuclear testing and its effects on the world.

    

2. Build Teams
   Divide your class into six teams. The five nations/organization should have an equal number of students, the moderating group should only have 3-4 students. Describe and have groups assign roles for each team member:
    
   • President - Organize team activities and monitor completion of assignments. Coordinate and assign research topics to team members.
   • Secretary - Take notes at team meetings and in charge of the final written report.
   • Delegates - Two people will sit at the conference table and will present the main points and arguments (questions can be asked by all members!)
   • Artist - In charge of gathering appropriate images, creating maps and other artwork.
   • Spy - Examine arguments of other parties. Come up with counter-arguments. In charge of not being caught off-guard.
   • Researchers - Everyone will act as a researcher in some capacity.

    

3. Assign Nation/Organization
   Assign one nation/organization to each team. At this point students will examine the page specific to their team, assign roles, and begin research. Each nation/organization page has questions to be addressed and links to find useful information. Library research should supplement the Internet resources.

   	France is the country that has caused all of the commotion. It was their decision to continue nuclear testing in the South Pacific that started this debate.
   	Australia holds a particular interest in nuclear testing in the South Pacific because of the proximity to its shores. Australia has always stood strong against nuclear testing
   	Greenpeace has conducted massive campaigns to stop testing, and numerous environmental tests to show its damage to the environment.
   	Being the only nation to fall victim to the devastation of the atomic weapons, Japan feels it is its duty to fight any attempt at renewed testing and developing of nuclear devices.
   	Being the world's nuclear powerhouse, the United States finds itself in an interesting role. The U.S. has opposed all nuclear testing, but understands France's desire for national security. The U.S. must make its opinion known, but must not attempt to dominate the negotiations.
   Moderators	This role is very important to the summit at the end of the week. The moderating group will be responsible for conducting the summit, asking follow up questions, and drawing up a treaty to be signed by all members at the end of the summit.

4. Research Position for Each Nation/Organization
   From data collection and research activities each team will assemble a report containing and information supporting the stance the nation/organization will be making. A set of questions specific to each group has been provided to get students started off in the right direction. These questions are only starters, they do not address the entire issue as should be seen by each nation/organization. The report should include the following information (this should be edited for each individual teacher's needs):
    
   • Introduction/Stance on nuclear testing
   • Research
   • Maps, Charts, and other images
   • Possible solutions
   • Conclusion

    

5. Conduct International Summit
   Set aside one full day for a formal conference. Organize your classroom for a five way discussion with room for the moderating team to conduct the summit. Each team takes a turn presenting its case. Once each team has presented its report, there will be an opportunity for other nations/organizations to ask rebuttal questions. Moderators will ask any further questions once the rebuttal questions have been addressed. After this round of questioning has ended, the moderating group should begin focusing the groups on trying to come up with a solution by drawing up a treaty for the entire class to sign.
   
   The moderators will have access to several suggestions on running the summit smoothly, the teacher is encouraged to examine the Moderators' page and add on to the suggestions for their specific classes.

    

6. Debriefing
   The wrap up activity of the summit can take a couple different forms. If there is time at the end of the conference, hold a discussion as to the importance of this issue to their future. This discussion could take place the next day, or could find form in a quick write, or take home essay. The opportunity should be given to the students to relate the experience and the issues to their personal beliefs and feelings.