Marie Curie

Marie Curie

Marie Curie was a brilliant scientist who made history in the world of science. Born in Warsaw,
Poland, in 1867, she had a passion for learning from a young age . However, women were not
allowed to attend the University of Warsaw, so she studied at a secret school called the "floating
university" . Marie dreamed of going to university, but she didn't have enough money. So, she
worked as a tutor and a governess to help her sister go to school in Paris . Finally, in 1891, Marie
was able to go to Paris to study at the Sorbonne .

In Paris, Marie met Pierre Curie, a scientist who shared her love of science . They married in 1895
and started working together on a new field of science called radioactivity . They discovered two
new elements, polonium and radium, which were more radioactive than uranium . Marie and Pierre
won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1903 for their work on radioactivity .

Sadly, Pierre died in a tragic accident in 1906 . But Marie continued her research and won the
Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1911 for her discovery of polonium and radium . She was the first
person to win two Nobel Prizes . Marie Curie was a pioneer in science, breaking barriers for
women and making incredible discoveries that changed the world.

During World War I, Marie Curie used her knowledge of radioactivity to help wounded soldiers.
She developed mobile X-ray units that could be taken to the battlefield . After the war, she
founded the Curie Institute in Paris, which is still a major medical research center today . Marie
Curie's work and legacy continue to inspire scientists and doctors around the world.
 Reading Summary
● Marie Curie was a Polish scientist who made groundbreaking discoveries in the field of
radioactivity.
● She and her husband, Pierre Curie, won the Nobel Prize in Physics for their work on
radioactivity, and she later won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for her discovery of polonium
and radium.
● Marie Curie was a pioneer for women in science and her work continues to inspire scientists
and doctors today.

Vocabulary

Term Definition Example Sentence

legacy (noun) Something that is passed on from one The family's legacy of hard work and
generation to the next, such as a determination continues to this day.
tradition or a set of beliefs.

radioactivity The process by which some substances Radioactivity is used in medicine to treat
(noun) emit energy in the form of radiation. cancer.

Sorbonne A famous university in Paris, France. Marie Curie studied at the Sorbonne in
(noun) Paris.

elements A pure substance that cannot be broken The periodic table lists all the known
(noun) down into simpler substances by elements.
chemical means.

uranium A heavy, radioactive metal found in the Uranium is a powerful element that can
(noun) Earth's crust. It is used to create nuclear be used for both good and bad
energy and weapons. purposes.
Multiple Choice Questions

Question #1 Question #2 Question #3

A. She was not interested in A. The existence of atoms. A. She served as a nurse.
science.
B. The theory of gravity. B. She developed mobile X-ray
B. Women were not allowed to units.
C. Two new radioactive
attend.
elements. C. She invented a new type of
C. She did not have enough weapon.
D. A cure for cancer.
money.
D. She helped build hospitals.
D. She preferred to study at a
secret school.

Short Answer Questions

Question #1 What was the name of the secret school that Marie Curie attended in Poland?

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Question #2 What did Marie Curie do to earn money to help her sister go to school in Paris?

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What is the name of the medical research centre that Marie Curie founded in
Question #3 Paris?

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Open Ended Questions
Marie Curie faced many challenges in her life, but she never gave up on her
Question #1 dreams. Think about a time when you had to overcome an obstacle to achieve a
goal. What did you learn from that experience?

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