Marie Curie: More Than Meets the Eye
From Devine Entertainment Specials · 1997
Summary
During World War I, two young sisters convince themselves that the mysterious scientist Marie Curie must be a spy, and set out to catch her. What they discover instead is a Nobel Prize-winning woman racing to build mobile X-ray vans -- "Petite Curies" -- so that doctors at the battlefront can see inside wounded soldiers and save lives. As the girls follow her to the front, they learn what real determination looks like and how hard Curie had to fight to get her science accepted.
Viewer safety
Set during World War I, with wounded soldiers and battlefield scenes shown seriously but not graphically. Preview if your class is sensitive to war themes.
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Teaching resources
Discussion questions
Two girls who think Marie Curie is a spy learn she is really building mobile X-ray units to save wounded soldiers in World War I.
- The girls judged Marie Curie before they knew her. How did the truth about her turn out to be the opposite of what they guessed?
- Curie's X-ray vans let doctors see inside a body without surgery. How does a tool like that change what doctors can do?
- Curie had to fight to get her invention used, partly because she was a woman in science. Why is it important that everyone gets a fair chance to contribute?
- Curie used her science to help people during a war. How can knowing something well let you help others?
Quick work-a-long
Words to know: X-ray, radium, scientist, invention
- An X-ray shows what our eyes can't -- the bones inside us. Name one other tool that reveals something hidden from plain sight.
- Curie brought her invention right to where it was needed most. Think of a helpful machine and write one sentence about where it would do the most good.