What's your Chemoscope?

A Web-Quest


to
a WebQuest by Linda Culp

Inspired by an idea from my grandson Joshua.


|Introduction | Task | Process | Resources | Evaluation | Conclusion |


Introduction:

What day, month, and year were you born?  Instead of finding your horoscope and relating you to the stars, we're going to find the elements that coincide with your birth and relate their properties to you!
 


You are chemical!

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Task:
Create a visual to illustrate the properties and interesting information about elements that have a special relationship to you.

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Process:
1.  Write the date, month, and year of your birth. Ex.  8-17-86
2.  Each element has an atomic number.  Which elements atomic numbers corresponds with your   birth numbers?  Ex.  8 is the atomic number for oxygen, 17 is the atomic number for chlorine.
3.  Gather information about your elements from the web.
4.  Create a poster, power point or a video in which the following information is displayed.
    a. Names of the elements in 6 different countries
    b. Name of the discoverer and the year discovered if known.
    c. Name of country of discoverer.
    d. Physical and chemical properties
    e. How these 2 or 3 elements describe you.
    f.  Most interesting use of your elements
    g. Most dangerous use of your elements
    h. Medical/beneficial uses of your elements.
    i.  Weirdest – strangest story involving your element
    j.  Describe one comic book page in which your element was used and how it was used.
    k. Draw a comic strip; write a story, song, poem or limirick to intertwine all of your chemical properties into one super-duper chemical character.
 
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Resources:
Off-line:

The Thirteenth Element by John Emsley
The Elements by John Emsley
Molecules at the Exhibition by John Emsley
The Chemical Tree, A History of Chemistry by William H. Brock
The Historical Background of Chemistry by Henry M. Leicester
Galileo's Commandment, 2,500 years of Great Science Writing edited by Edmund Blair Bolles
Crations of Fire, Chemistry's Lively History from Alchemy to the Atomic Age by Cathy Cobb & Harold Goldwhite

On-line:

Webelements.com- award winning site for professionals and scholars

The Pictorial Periodic Table - lots of properties & alternate styles of tables.

Omea University Chemistry Department - history links, periodic tables, demos, and lots of other links.

Chemicool Periodic table - Clear, easy to read with basic information

The Periodic Table of Comic Books -  really neat sight with original comic book pages to read

The Periodic Table of Poetry - a really interesting site with published and original poems about the chemical elements

Atomic structure timeline.  - filled with links to biographies and other data

Chemistry Central - links galore to all sorts of information in chemisty
 
 

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Evaluation:
Please read the requirements within the rubric carefully to acheive the maximum number of points.
 

Required components Excellent
(4 pts.)		 Above average (3pts.) Acceptable 
(2 pts.)		 Not acceptable (1pt.)
Presentation
(procedure #4)
Power Pt., video, or poster		 All required information  presented along with several supporting details and/or examples for each. All required information presented  along with 1-2 supporting details and/or examples. Most requred information presented but no details and/or examples are given. Little information presented
Facts and Data
Procedure a-k		 All information presented was clear, accurate, and thorough. Most information presented was clear, accurate, and thorough. Most information presented  was clear and accurate, but was not usually thorough. Information had several inaccuracies and was not thorough OR was often unclear. 
Sources cited  both web & hard copy. Sources for information and graphics are documented in the designated format. Most sources for information and graphics are documented in the designated format. Sources for information and graphics are documented, but most are not in the correct format. Some sources for information and graphics are not documented.
Mechanics
spelling, Grammar, etc		 No grammatical, spelling or punctuation errors. Almost no grammatical, spelling or punctuation errors A few grammatical spelling, or punctuation errors. A few grammatical spelling, or punctuation errors.
Creativity- visuals, and other media incorporated Information presented  was unique &  interesting  beyond expectations! Information was interesting & unique. Information presented but not does not hold attention. Information presented in a dull and uninteresting manner.
Other Always class time effectively - comes in at other times to continue work.  Always uses class time effectively Usually uses class time effectively Does not use class time effectively

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Conclusion:
Hopefully this has been a fun learning experience.  Perhaps you were able to find interesting and unusual properties that your particular elements exhibit and using your very wonderful mind you were able to create something that you were proud to show the class.   Try not to think of chemicals as being "bad".  They are all around us, and in fact, we are elements! Have fun while learning.

|Introduction | Task | Process | Resources | Evaluation | Conclusion |
 
 

Any questions or comments concerning this WebQuest may be addressed by email to Linda Culp
Any questions concerning this site may be addressed to Suzanne Quick.
Graphics on this page were obtained from grsites.com and fresherimage.com

 

This page last updated on 4/26/01
Certain materials are included under the fair use exemption of the U.S. Copyright Law and have been prepared according to the Multi-media Fair Use guidelines and are restricted from further use.