Download the free Spark Squad Volume 3 nuclear energy comic from the Department of Energy and explore nuclear fission through a colorful STEM adventure.
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Download the Free Spark Squad Comic
What is Spark Squad Volume 3?
Spark Squad, Volume 3: Nuclear Energy is a free downloadable comic book from the U.S. Department of Energy. It uses a fictional adventure to introduce young readers to nuclear power, nuclear fission and energy-related STEM topics. The volume was released in October 2024 and is part of a larger series exploring different energy sources.
The Department of Energy describes the comic as an interactive STEM resource for elementary school students. Its characters also appeal to readers who enjoy graphic stories, science illustrations and hands-on activities.
How to download the free comic
Use the download button to visit the Department of Energy’s Spark Squad Volume 3 page. Look for the high-resolution PDF link or the downloadable comic listed on the page. The file is approximately 16.46 MB, so it may take a moment to open on slower connections.
You can read the comic on a computer or tablet, save it for offline reading, or print selected pages if you have access to a printer. The free offer is the digital comic, not a mailed physical copy. Printing costs are separate.
Meet the Spark Squad and their challenge
The story follows students Jasmine, Aria and Thomas as they try to collect enough joules to qualify for the regional Power Fair. Their journey introduces them to Dakota and a nuclear power plant, where they learn about how a chain reaction can release energy.
Readers do not need to know the earlier stories to explore this volume’s central science ideas, although the Department of Energy also links to the first two volumes about marine energy and hydropower.
How does the comic explain nuclear fission?
One of the story’s main teaching tools is a dodgeball analogy. In the comic, the characters use neutron balls to represent particles that can split uranium-235 atoms. This introduces the concept of a chain reaction in a playful way.
An analogy helps make an unfamiliar process easier to imagine, but a real nuclear reactor does not work like a literal dodgeball game. Students should use the companion educational materials to distinguish the fictional demonstration from the actual science.
What can students learn about nuclear power?
The comic introduces the basic idea that nuclear fission releases energy, which power plants can use to generate electricity. It also encourages students to ask how different energy sources work and how engineers manage complicated systems.
Nuclear energy is a useful topic for discussing both electricity generation and engineering challenges. The comic is an introductory resource rather than a comprehensive treatment of reactor design, waste management, cost or safety.
Try the companion Dodgeball Fission activity
DOE provides a Spark Squad Dodgeball Fission activity alongside the comic. Its educational resources include a lesson plan and a science-standards alignment document that can help teachers build a classroom discussion around the story.
Preview the instructions before leading the activity, and make sure any movement-based game fits the space and students involved. The activity is an educational model, not a demonstration involving radioactive material.
Who can use this free STEM resource?
Teachers, parents, homeschool families and students can use the comic as a science-reading activity. DOE specifically describes Volume 3 as a resource for elementary school students, while the story’s characters are middle schoolers.
One approach is to read the comic together and pause when a new science term appears. Ask learners to explain the idea in their own words and identify which parts of the scene are storytelling devices. Older students can compare the comic with a more detailed explanation of nuclear energy.
More ways to explore the Spark Squad series
The Department of Energy links to earlier Spark Squad volumes covering marine energy and hydropower. Reading the series can help students compare ways electricity is generated without requiring them to purchase a textbook or subscription.
DOE also offers a nuclear energy STEM toolkit and a short explanatory video connected to Volume 3. The comic, activities and videos can form a short learning unit. Always check the official page for current downloads and instructions before sharing them with a class.
Find the comic PDF and educator activities on the DOE Spark Squad Volume 3 page.
