Subject Area(S) Physical Science, Chemistry and Physics

Drexel-SDP GK-12 ACTIVITY

Element Adveristment

Subject Area(s) Physical Science, Chemistry and Physics

Associated Unit Geology

Associated Lesson Molecules and Mixtures

Activity Title Element Poster Project

Header

Grade Level __8 (__-__)

Activity Dependency

Time Required 50 min period

Group Size Individual

Expendable Cost per Group

$ 3.00 for poster paper

Summary

Students will learn about some of the common elements found in nature.

Engineering Connection

Making the connection between the elements, their electronic structure, properties and types of bonding is the foundation of Materials Engineering. Materials Engineering is the oldest engineering disciple, we even named prehistoric ages after the material ancient man mastered (Stone Age, Bronze Age, Iron Age) and ceramics engineering is evidenced in pottery, stained glass (nanoparticles of noble metals gives rise to the beautiful colors), and more recently engineering organic molecules has introduced plastics and bio inspired composite materials. All of these technologically important materials are made of and designed with the available elements on the earth.

Keywords

Poster, elements, periodic table of the elements

Educational Standards

· Science: 3.4.7 A

Pre-Requisite Knowledge

Students should know what information can be found on the periodic table of the elements.

Learning Objectives

After this lesson, students should be able to:

· Find information on the periodic table of the elements

· Recall the scientific symbol for the elements presented

· Present a poster and entertain questions about the elements

Materials List

Each group needs:

1. Poster paper

2. Periodic table of the elements

Introduction / Motivation

You are an advertising executive and you have been commissioned to design a marketing campaign to sell an element. You have decided to create posters highlighting the unique properties of the element in an eye catching way. You will have to present your poster to the client.

Vocabulary / Definitions

Word / Definition
Chemical symbol / An abbreviation of the element’s name.
Atomic number / The number of protons found in the nucleus of an element.
Mass number / The number of neutrons and protons in the nucleus of an element.
Isotopes / Each of two or more forms of the same element that contain equal numbers of protons but different numbers of neutrons in their nuclei, and hence differ in atomic mass but not in chemical properties; in particular, a radioactive form of an element.
Group / A family of elements that share similar properties because their outermost electron configurations are similar. Groups are indicated by columns on the periodic table of the elements.
Period / Horizontal row on the periodic table of the elements.
Chemical properties / Characteristics of that describe reactive behavior, allows change.
Physical properties / Characteristics you can detect with your senses
Compounds / A chemical compound is a substance consisting of two or more different elements bonded together in a fixed mass ratio that can be split into simpler substances

Procedure

Background

Students were given a worksheet and assigned an element.

Attachments

Elements Poster worksheet PDF

Poster assessment Rubric

Safety Issues

none

Troubleshooting Tips

none

Investigating Questions

1. What gives metals their distinctive sheen?

2. What was the most interesting fact you found when researching your element?

Assessment

Pre-Activity Assessment

Title: none

Activity Embedded Assessment

After each student presents their sales pitch, as questions about their elements. Note: Be sure to emphasize the use of “units” when reporting quantities. ( ie grams, dollars, g/mol)

Post-Activity Assessment

Title: Presentations

Activity Extensions

Activity Scaling

Additional Multimedia Support

References

See attachment

Owner

Drexel University GK-12 Program

Contributors

Jennifer Atchsion

Dorothea Holmes-Stanley