Posted by David Wetzel
I am always on the lookout for interactive websites that students can use in science and below is one that requires students to use critical thinking skills as they learn about the Periodic Table of Elements.
The Periodic Table
The Periodic Table by Anneberg Media is an interactive Web site where students can learn about the Periodic Table of the Elements: how it is organized (into groups); the atomic structure of each group; characteristics of isotopes; the scientific notation that is used to define atoms and elements; and how the chemical properties of elements are determined by their atomic composition.
Student Interaction
Students:
- explore the basics of the atom and how scientists came to understand its structure, learn how the number of protons in an atom determines what element it is, and discover how elements, which interact to make up all living things and materials in the world, can be organized and understood using the Periodic Table.
- learn about atomic structure, including how negatively charged electrons fill the orbitals of atoms and how the placement of electrons affects the chemical nature of elements; students will also learn the notation systems that are used to describe the orbital configuration.
- explore the Periodic Table further to learn how it can be divided into groups (the vertical columns of the table) and periods (the horizontal rows); that atoms can come in different types of forms like isotopes; (how to calculate the mass of an atom, and how the properties of those groups and periods vary depending on the structure of each atom.
- investigate the characteristics of families of elements, such as the halogen family and noble gases.
Additional Resources
Web Elements by the University of Sheffield
Periodic Table by Los Alamos National Laboratory
Posted by David Wetzel
Scientific Investigations
Are you searching for science lessons and activities designed for gifted students in science?
I have developed several lessons for your gifted students, as well as students in honors science programs, based on the following procedures and steps.
Ideas and Evidence in Science
Gifted students should be taught that it is important to collect evidence by making observations and measurements when trying to solve a problem or answer a question.
Investigative Skills
Gifted students should be taught the following procedures and steps when investigating scientific phenomena.
Plan and Design Investigations
- ask questions [for example, 'How?', 'Why?', 'What will happen if ... ?'] and decide how they might find answers to them
- use first-hand experience and simple information sources to answer questions
- think about what might happen before deciding what to do
- recognize when a test or comparison is unfair
Obtain and Present Evidence
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follow simple instructions to control the risks to themselves and others
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explore using the senses of sight, hearing, smell, touch, and taste (when safe) as appropriate to make and record observations and measurements
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communicate what happened in a variety of ways, including using ICT [for example, in speech and writing, by drawings, tables, block graphs and pictograms]
Consider Evidence and Draw Conclusions
- make simple comparisons [for example, hand span, shoe size] and identify simple patterns or associations
- compare what happened with what they expected would happen, and try to explain it, drawing on their knowledge and understanding
- review their work and explain what they did to others
Lessons and Activities
The following lessons adhere to procedures and steps listed above.
Who Killed the Electric Car - Again!
Investigating the Impact of Artificial Reefs
Finding the Density of Liquids
What is the Difference Between mass and Weight?
