The World and Its People

Chapter 13: The New Eastern Europe

Web Activity Lesson Plans

Introduction
In this chapter, students read about the nations of eastern Europe. Until the late 1980s or early 1990s, the former Soviet Union controlled these countries. As part of their emphasis on production and heavy industry, the Soviets neglected certain safety precautions. They also neglected environmental concerns. Some of the most polluted places in the world are located in the countries that formerly made up the Soviet Union. The country of Ukraine, site of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, was one of the republics that made up the Soviet Union.

Lesson Description
Students will work their way through a site that describes the Chernobyl accident, its causes, and its effects. They will then write a newspaper article about the accident.

Instructional Objectives

1. The student will be able to define the causes and effects of the Chernobyl nuclear accident.
2. The student will be able to describe the accident in a written narrative account.

Student Web Activity Answers

1. Mutations occurred in plants and animals after the explosion. However, rare species are now returning in large numbers to the affected area.
2. Belarus, Ukraine, and Russia
3. Thyroid cancer among children is far higher than normal. In addition, psychological effects remain widespread.
4. The "sarcophagus" is the Chernobyl Unit 4 post-accident containment structure. It was built to isolate and contain the remains of the damaged reactor.
5. Students' stories may vary.