11th Grade  Project 2 weeks

Elemental Explorers: Interactive Table Adventures

Jonatan G
Updated
HS-PS1-1
HS-PS1-1
Collaboration
Effective Communication
Critical Thinking & Problem Solving
+ 1 more
1-pager

Purpose

This project aims to engage students in understanding the real-world significance of chemical elements by creating dynamic, interactive museum experiences. Through collaboration and hands-on exploration, students will deepen their understanding of how elements contribute to diverse industries and everyday life. By synthesizing scientific concepts into creative presentations, students enhance their communication and critical thinking skills, fostering a deeper appreciation for the role of chemistry in shaping our world. The project culminates in an Elemental Expo, where students present their knowledge and insights, showcasing the essential connections between chemistry and life.

Learning goals

Students will explore the role of chemical diversity in everyday life, analyzing how elements' properties influence their interactions and impacts. They'll engage in collaborative research, innovative presentations, and experiments that connect scientific theories to real-world applications. Through feedback sessions and revisions, students will strengthen skills in communication, teamwork, and critical thinking, developing a deeper understanding of the periodic table's relevance to industries such as medicine, agriculture, and technology.

Standards
  • [Next Generation Science Standards] HS-PS1-1 - Use the periodic table as a model to predict the relative properties of elements based on the patterns of electrons in the outermost energy level of atoms.
  • [Next Generation Science Standards] HS-PS1-1 - Use the periodic table as a model to predict the relative properties of elements based on the patterns of electrons in the outermost energy level of atoms.
Competencies
  • Collaboration - Students co-design projects with peers, exercise shared-decision making, strengthen relational agency, resolve conflict, and assume leadership roles.
  • Effective Communication - Students practice listening to understand, communicating with empathy, and share their learning through exhibiting, presenting and reflecting on their work.
  • Critical Thinking & Problem Solving - Students consider a variety of innovative approaches to address and understand complex questions that are authentic and important to their communities.
  • Content Expertise - Students develop key competencies, skills, and dispositions with ample opportunities to apply knowledge and engage in work that matters to them.

Products

Students will co-create interactive exhibition booths that showcase the real-world relevance and scientific properties of chosen elements found on the periodic table. Each booth will feature a creative display, including multimedia presentations, live science demonstrations, and hands-on activities that illustrate the chemical interactions and everyday applications of these elements. By offering varied mediums for students to express their findings, from digital storytelling to physical experiments, the project ensures all students can effectively engage and contribute to a dynamic learning experience.

Launch

Begin the project with a dynamic, interactive scavenger hunt where students explore the school grounds to find clues related to key elements from the periodic table. Set up stations with simple experiments or demonstrations that showcase everyday uses and interesting facts about these elements, allowing students to engage all their senses. This immersive experience serves as an introduction to the project's essential questions, sparking curiosity and establishing foundational knowledge for their upcoming museum exhibit designs.

Exhibition

Students will organize an engaging 'Elemental Expo' where they will showcase their periodic table museum exhibits. Each group will set up a booth to present their interactive displays, including multimedia presentations and live chemical experiments that highlight the element's significance in daily life. Visitors, including peers, teachers, and family, will be invited to explore each exhibit, fostering communication, collaboration, and critical thinking as students actively present and explain their work. The event will culminate in a debrief session where students reflect on their learning experiences and provide feedback on each other's exhibits.