Physics teacher Lynn MacDougall uses a simple disguise costume to dress up as a radiation officer to liven-up her lesson on radiation and smoke alarms. She starts by getting her year 10 pupils to consider how a smoke alarm might work, before getting them to all take part in a modelling exercise looking at the flow of alpha particles in the alarm. Finally she uses a GM counter to demonstrate the safe levels of radiation in a smoke alarm. Lynn, a physics teacher at Stocksbridge High School, finds that although the students are less than convinced by the disguise itself, they are fully involved in the lesson. The radiation officer offers a great context for discussing radioactivity and can also be used as an introduction to the topic.

Video Series: Great Lesson Ideas
Release Date 2010