Researching Elements

To make sure that students really get to start learning about elements, I have them do a research project on one element.  I have students work with a partner to research an element that I give them.  By researching one element, the students get to start investigating what elements are and what properties they have. Each student was given the following worksheet to complete while researching their element:

Presentation on an element

Name:___________________

Date:___________

You will be working with your partner to present information about your element to the class.  You can present your information in any form you see fit (i.e. poster, rap, story, PowerPoint, poem, skit, etc.) as long as you approve it with me first.  Remember though, your presentation should only last 3 minutes.  You will find a lot of the information about your element at the following website: http://www.chemicalelements.com/show/name.html.

When you present your information about your element to your class, you will need to tell the class the following information. Make sure to fill out the blanks below, as you will turn in this sheet after your presentation.

The name of your element______________________________________.

The chemical symbol for your element____________________________.

The atomic number of your element______________________________.

The atomic mass of your element________________________________.

The family the element belongs to________________________________.

Common use(s) of your element (you can list them on the lines below) _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

One interesting fact about your element _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

After the students finished researching their elements, they created amazing presentations that they then showed off to the class in a class gallery.  The students loved being able to pick how they would present their information!  All the students were very proud to show off their final product!

Seeing Elements and Compounds at a Microscopic Level

Elements and compounds can be a very hard concept for students to understand.  Even once students have mastered the concept of atoms, many have a hard time differentiating between the two.  I have found that it is most beneficial to students to show them a multitude of examples of compounds and elements.  Purdue does a great job of showing students how elements and compounds are different at the microscopic level.  

Making Atom Models

Looking for a way to engage students in atom?  Try making a model of an atom in the classroom!  You do not need that many supplies and students have fun learning about atoms while making the models.  When I made the models of atoms with my students they really liked working with the different materials and not having to sit through a boring PowerPoint!

To make a model of an element with 5 protons, 6 neutrons, and 5 electrons, you just need the following supplies:

• ·         50 cm of fishing line for each student
• ·         One longer pipe cleaner for each student
• ·         One shorter pipe cleaner for each student
• ·         Five plastic beads for each student
• ·         Five fruit loops of one color for each student
• ·         Six fruit loops of another color for each student
• ·         Instruction sheet on how to make an atom model for each student

The instruction sheet each student was given contained the following information:

Procedure for making an atom model

Following the below procedure to made an atom that has 5 protons, 6 neutrons, and 5 electrons.

1) You will pick two pipe cleaners of different colors.

2) You will ask the teacher for the number of beads you want to represent the electrons.  Remember you want the same amount of beads as electrons.

3) You will now pick out how many fruit loops you need for you model.  Remember the one color fruit loop will represent the protons and another different color fruit loop will represent the neutrons. 

4) You will put the electrons on the pipe cleaner.  Remember that the first level can only hold two electrons, but the second level can hold the rest of the electrons.

5) After adding the electrons to the pipe cleaner, put the pipe cleaner into a circle and carefully twist the piper cleaner together at the top to close the circle.

6) For the second longer pipe cleaner, with any needed electrons, you will put the pipe cleaner into a circle and twist the top of the pipe cleaner to connect to the first pipe clear.  The second longer pip cleaner should be around the first pipe cleaner and not inside of it.

7) Ask the teacher for 50 cm of fishing line.

8) You will put the fishing line through the holes on the fruit loops and gently tie the fishing line together so the fruit loops form a tight group.

9) You will now tie the fishing line to the pipe cleaner; one end of the fishing line will be tied to the top of the pipe cleaner circle and the other end of the fishing line will be tied to the bottom of the pipe cleaner circle.

10) You will use the sticky note labels at the front of the classroom to label your model.  Write the word “electron” on one sticky note label and stick it to an electron in your model (it does not matter which electron you decide to put the label on). Write the word “neutron” on one sticky note label and stick it to a neutron in your model (it does not matter which neutron you decide to put the label on). Write the word “proton” on one sticky note label and stick it to a proton in your model (it does not matter which proton you decide to put the label on). Write the word “nucleus” on one sticky note label and stick it to the nucleus in your model.

11) Write your name and class on the notecard the teacher gives  you.  The notecard is hole-punched in the corner so you can attach the notecard to your atom with string once you have written your name and class on it.

This idea was adapted from: Winward, C. (2010). Making an atom model. Retrieved from http://www.lessoncorner.com/l/gentlesurf/Makinganatommodel