Discrimination at Hanford (number 2 will blow your mind)

The Manhattan Project was the first thing we learnt about this year and it got the full PLP treatment. We started this unit with watching small clips from various sources like a Disney movie explaining how uranium works and a modern video about the long term effects of radiation. And of course projects galore like this letter we had to write:

Dear Churchill 

I have recently been sent to Los Alamos to complete my mission of finding out exactly what these Americans have been up to.

 

My journey started with a long bus ride to the remote town and research facility of Los Alamos there I was allowed to walk around freely with only a hand full of tasks to complete, for most I was only to report to certain building. My first stop was to the guest house and was rather uneventful as the only thing I did there was talk to a slim man smoking outside. He told me that Gen. Leslie Groves had stayed there when he visited lots Alamos. 

Next I was to visit Ashley pond on my way I looked out over the Sangre de cristo mountains in the distance. Once I arrived at Ashley pond they upgraded my clearance! I couldn’t believe it, I was extremely pleased to receive such hospitality. Once making my way down to D building, this is where they did most of their metallurgy, as a result the building is dust prof and air conditioned. Once there my clearance was upgraded again. Once I looked through all the buildings I came across a bus headed to test ‘the gadget’. Once I got there I looked around and saw it suspended above the ground from a large tower. After I had inspected the sight I walked back onto the bus and we drove to a safe distance. It staggered me how far we drove before we stopped and I thought the Americans crazy. But when the bomb went off I could see why. It was a massive explosion like nothing I’ve ever seen. 

The Americans truly have a devastating power in their hands.

Alexander Reginald

So I’ve mentioned the first 2 points of PLP so now it’s time for the third, field studies. This time Ms. Willemse and Mr. Hughes decided to go to one of the old reactors from World War II. The B reactor at Hanford was their first choice as it’s close and was a very big contributor to the project. Unfortunately I had a conflict so I couldn’t go on this trip but I was at school while they were gone. My job while they were gone was to research my topic but once they got back I changed my topic. Not to mention the substitute teacher didn’t even show up for 2 of the 3 days. However I am still very proud of the final product that I poured of a lot of time into after the rest of my group got back.
Embedded video here. (Need to speak to Teva)

You may be wondering what contribution to the project was. Well we decided each person should get a topic to cover and my topic was the one about Lula Little which meant I did all the research and writing for it. 

Something I would do different next time would be better communication between people and a more clear vision from the start.