Marie Curie and the discovery of radium
| National Curriculum links (Key Stage
4 double science) |
Sc1
1a |
... how scientific ideas are presented,
evaluated and disseminated |
Sc1
1d |
... consider the power and limitations
of science in addressing … social …questions …and
the ethical issues involved |
Sc4
3e |
... the electromagnetic spectrum includes
… X-rays and gamma rays |
Sc4
3g |
... some uses of X-rays and gamma rays
in medicine |
Sc4
6e |
the beneficial and harmful effects of
ionising radiation on matter and living organisms |
Sc4
6f |
... some uses of radioactivity ... |
Resources
Marie Curie and the discovery
of radium gives a brief history of the work of Marie and Pierre
Curie on the discovery of radium. It shows students why Marie chose
that area of research - because it was new and there were lots of unanswered
questions and not many other people working in the field! It also charts
the way Marie assumed her results were wrong to begin with and repeated
her initial work 20 times before accepting the evidence and presenting
it.
Radium and cancer
provides an account of the way the Curies discovered the potential of
radium for curing cancer. This emphasises their decision not to patent
their process for extracting radium from pitch blend, benefiting society
but depriving themselves of a fortune.
X-rays, Marie Curie
and the Great War examines the way Marie Curie pioneered the
use of X-ray machines on the battlefields of the Great War, with her
radiological cars and field units.
Activities
There are five activities :
| Activity
1 |
|
- Questions to help students to understand the text about the
Curies' work.
|
| Activity
2 |
|
- Students write a brief biography of Marie Curie in the form
of a timeline, graphical presentation or leaflet using the resources
provided here as well as other resources (reference books and
the Internet suggested).
|
| Activity
3 |
|
- either
writing a newspaper article about the Curies' discovery of radium
as a cancer treatment and their decision not to patent it
or
producing an obituary for Marie Curie, to focus on the contrast
between the benefits of her work for society and the damage
it caused her health
|
| Activity
4 |
|
- Short questions about the use of X-rays in World War 1
|
| Activity
5 |
|
- Students produce a poster about the history and uses of X-rays
and their importance in medicine.
|
|
