This project was created as an assignment in Planning Interactive Curriculum Connections, an online class offered by Berrien RESA and taught by Janine Lim.
Title: ELEMENTary! my dear Watson
Description: Can you "detect" the Element? In a Mystery Quest format, fifth grade students who have been introduced to elements and the periodic chart will choose an element and create clues to help partner classes research and identify it.
Method: Teachers cooperatively develop a list of questions to guide the clues which should describe or "personify" the element and the kind of activity in which it may be involved! Clues may give information like the element's class, color, chemical and physical characteristics. Visual clues such as graphics, costumes, video clips etc. would be welcome to help our "Science Sherlocks" solve the element mysteries.
To personify an element, students could demonstrate its chemical and physical characteristics as style of dress, color, behavior, career, neighbors. How different would this be for a "person" named Aluminum compared to one named Iron, or Helium, or Carbon? Some other clues that may be used are the scientist, country, date, and circumstances of the element's discovery.
All teams present their clues, then a time for research is provided, before all teams return to guess and confirm the identity of the elements.
This may be multi-site, or if point to point, one or two classrooms at each end could each take one element to present.
Outcome: The clues and research help students increase understanding of element properties, vocabulary, and structure of the periodic chart.
Time Frame: 1 hour, 30 minutes in videoconference
- presession: study, preparation, and practice time for presentations
-10 minutes for introductions of classes in videoconference
-5-7 minutes for each class to present clues
- 20 minutes for detectives to solve the element mysteries (research time)
-10 minutes for classes to ask one yes/no question
-10 minutes for classes to present the answers
-10 minutes wrap-up and goodbyes.Who may participate: Fifth grade classes
Connection: IP only, at this time we are looking for a one-to-one connection
Collaborating with a location having multi-site capabilities could involve additional classes.Event date: November 2005
Contact: Carol Scott, Mustang Valley Elementary School
scottc@mustangps.org
(405) 324 -4575Project Design Credit: Modeled after Mystery Quest by Janine Lim: Berrien RESA