Glencoe Physical Science

Unit 4: The Nature of Matter

Unit Project 2

Project Type: Technology
Working in pairs, have the students conduct additional research on a given element starting with the links provided below. The students should include key information about the element on the cards provided. The students can then find an attractive and creative way to display their cards. The students can walk around the room and learn about the different properties of the elements from their fellow students' projects.

Student Task:
As a class:

  • Brainstorm a list of elements that can be found in materials surrounding you. For example, pencils contain graphite, which is made of carbon.
  • Can you name other ways these elements are used?
  • Find out where the elements are located on the periodic table.
  • Find out why certain elements have such unusual elemental symbols on the periodic table.
  • Use the following links to find more information about different elements on the periodic table.
Working with a partner and several index cards, choose one element from the list and continue your research on this particular element. On one card show the elemental symbol, atomic number, atomic mass and name of the element. On a second card, write the electron configuration, state of matter at room temperature, and whether the element is synthetic or naturally occurring. When completed, students can put the cards on display for the rest of the class.

Time:
It will take one class period to brainstorm ideas and one class period to design and create the element cards.

Possible Resources:
Students can visit these sites to find information on the element(s) they chose.

Chemical Elements
http://www.chemicalelements.com/index.html

The Periodic Table
http://www.mii.org/periodic/MIIperiodicChart.html

The Periodic Table
http://members.iworld.net/joo/physics/curri-sub/periodic/periodic-table.html

The Periodic Table of Ocean Elements
http://www.mbari.org/chemsensor/pteo.htm

The Pictorial Periodic Table
http://chemlab.pc.maricopa.edu/periodic/foldedtable.html

Rubric:

Click here for a rubric to help you score this project. (65.0K)

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