Nuclear energy is a marvel of the modern age. A single cup full of uranium – the material needed to fuel a nuclear power station – is enough to power a city for many hundreds of years. However, splitting the atom to create energy is a contentious issue. There is much fear surrounding the construction of these power stations, instigated by instances of disasters like that of Chernobyl, Three Mile Island and most recently, Fukushima in Japan. This is a debate that will remain for a long time, as society moves away from fossil fuels to alternative sources, the need to discuss nuclear energy will grow.
Level: Intermediate: B1/B2
Running Time: 90 minutes +
Materials included
This free lesson plan is suitable for adults, teenagers, and General English classes. Each plan includes:
- A debate motion
- A summary of the controversy
- Points for both Pros and Cons
- Language to use in a debate
- Debate role cards to help identify student groups
- An article
- Statistics (true or false exercise)
- Vocab for the topic
Preparation
Worksheet download
Countries should invest more in nuclear – Discussion Questions and Article
Countries should invest more in nuclear – Pros and Cons Debating Pack