Name: _________________________________ Date: __________________ Per.: _______
Manhattan Project:
Scientist Most Wanted
You are an investigative reporter. You have recently learned about
the top secret mission, known as the Manhattan Project, through
your reading of the newly released novel Bomb: The Race to Build - and Steal - - the World’s Most Dangerous Weapon by Steve Steinkin. You have been asked to
investigate the background of one of the Manhattan Project scientists who continbuted in the
making the atomic bomb. You findings (your paper) will be published in the local newspaper
along with a full page spread containing a poster identifying why your scientists was wanted for
the Manhattan Project by government officials.
***This activity will be a cooperative learning project with Science, Language Arts and
History. It consists of 2 parts: a “Wanted Poster” and an informative (investigative) writing
assignment.
Requirements for the Paper:
• Typed using arial or times new roman font size 12 pt
• 1 inch margins
• Double spaced main body (6 paragraphs)
• MLA Formatted Bibliography with at least 4 sources, one of which must be one of the
readings from your science class
Your paper should follow MLA format and include the following paragraph structure:
1st Paragraph: Family History
• Legal name: first name, middle name (if any), and last name
• Correct date of birth
• Correct date of death
• Where they were born and where they lived most of their lives?
• Did they immigrate to the United States? Why?
• Information on mother, father, siblings, spouses and children
2nd Paragraph: Education and Work Experience
• Where did they go to school? How many years of school did they attend?
• What did they study? How did they become interested in science?
• What degrees did they acquire? When did they receive their degrees?
• Did they have any additional training such as: an internship, apprenticeship or research
fellowship? Were they a research assistant, assistant professor or professor at a college or
university?
• How did they come to be part of the Manhattan Project?
3rd Paragraph: What is the atom?
Citing information gathered from your science class and science readings, answer the
following:
• Explain the structure of the atom? What is an isotope?
• What were Manhattan Project scientists attempting to do with the atom? Provide a quote
from Steinkin’s book that is properly cited to support your claim.
• Why were they attempting to do it? What was their hope if these were successful?
• Explain the science behind the final atomic bomb.
4th Paragraph: What did they contribute to the Manhattan Project?
• With whom (other scientists or politicians) did they work during the time of the Project?
What did they do together? Explain.
• What scientific contribution(s) did they make to the Manhattan Project? Provide an
explanation of the science behind their work.
• How did their contribution help complete the final Project?
5th Paragraph: Historical Facts
Citing information gathered from your history class and research, answer the following:
• What was happening in history during the time of their Manhattan Project work? Explain.
• Did these events influence how they worked or where they worked? Explain
• Did these events influence any of the following: why they participated in these scientific
studies; how they performed their scientific studies; where the scientific studies were
performed; or the outcome of their scientific studies?
• Provide a famous quote related to their time working on the Manhattan Project.
6th Paragraph: Conclusion
• In science class this year, you have learned about the physical science. Summarize your
scientists importances as it relates to the study of physical science. Which branch of
physical science, chemistry or physics, would you classify their work under? And finally,
address the question: “If you could meet this scientist, what is one question that you
would ask them and why?”
Bibliography – Included on a separate page at the end.
*** Projects will be graded for their content/word choice, organization, ideas,
presentation and bibliography using the attached rubric.
Requirements for the
Wanted Poster:
• 8 ½” x 11” paper, mounted on construction paper to make border
• Correct legal name: firstname, middle name (if any), and last name
• 3 pictures: 1 of scientist, 1 of their scientific discovery, 1 of the Manhattan Project as it
relates to their contribution
• Correct date of birth
• Correct date of death
• Country of origin (first lived)
• A quote that makes a connection to their work on Manhattan Project.
• A description of why your scientist is “wanted” or a description that provides a
understanding of the significant role your scientist played in the Manhattan Project.
• The project’s appearance should be professional in nature. It appears that care was taken
in its creation and time was put forth in its editing.
Useful websites:
http://scienceworld.wolfram.com/biography/
http://www.infoplease.com/spot/scibio1.html#inv
http://www.atomicheritage.org/mediawiki/index.php/Main_Page
http://www.lanl.gov/about/history-innovation/index.php?story_id=13
http://energy.gov/management/office-management/operational-management/history/doehistory-timeline/timeline-events
• http://www.manhattanprojectvoices.org/people
• http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/members/courses/teachers_corner/31784.html
• https://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/18349336-bomb-the-race-to-build-and-stealthe-world-s-most-dangerous-weapon
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List of Manhattan Project Scientists
• Neils Bohr
• Leona Woods Marshall Libby
• Arthur H. Compton
• Maria Goeppert Mayer
• Albert Einstein
• Glenn Seaborg
• Enrico Fermi
• Leo Szilard
• Richard Feynman
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• Otto Frisch
• Chien-Shiung Wu
• Ernest O. Lawrence
Eugene Wigner