Are microwaves a fast way to cook—or a fast way to get radiation poisoning? Science scholars get their facts straight with a video from the American Chemical Society's Reactions series. The narrator explains how microwaves work as well as the benefits to microwaving food over other cooking methods.

Concepts

food, food preparation, microwave radiation, water, nutrients, cooking, healthy eating

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Additional Tags

science

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Instructional Ideas

• The video works well in a health lesson or unit on the electromagnetic spectrum and types of radiation
• Take learning further by starting a discussion about why it's not ok to put metal in a microwave
  

Classroom Considerations

• Show a diagram of the electromagnetic spectrum to the class before viewing
  

• This video is hosted on YouTube

Pros

• Animated water molecules help solidify the principles of microwave technology
• The resource addresses the myth in a straightforward manner using grade-appropriate terminology
  

Cons

• None

Common Core

SL.9-10.2