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Element Research Project
Date Due: March 21, 2003
As part of our study of Chemical Building Blocks, you are being assigned a
Science/English research project on an element or birthstone of your choice that
will be presented in the form of a brochure. Specific science information
listed below must be covered. All writing must follow Mrs. Zakas' Rules
for Writing. English grades will reflect proper grammar usage, sentence
structure, and clarity of the subject matter. You will be provided with
instructions on how to create the brochure if you have forgotten. Mrs.
Smoller will introduce all students to the project with a presentation in the
Cullen Memorial Library scheduled for March 5, 2003. The presentation will
provide you with instructions and websites to help you research and add visuals
of your element or birthstone to your brochure. You will also be
introduced to the Noodlebib website to assist with the development of the Words
Cited page. This project will count as a double grade and to ensure
your success, it is imperative that the following guidelines be followed:
- All project must be typed. No exceptions will be made in this
regard.
- All projects must include a works cited page and include THREE RESOURCES
one of which can be a general encyclopedia. Do not pass your project
in if this page is not provided. Use the
Noodlebib website
for accuracy.
- Cover (Front) page of brochure should catch our attention. Try to
be creative and colorful. In an effort not to waste the ink supply of the
friendly, family printer, you may add color with markers, colored pencils or
crayons if preferred.
- Physical properties - as part of the introduction the physical
properties of the element must include Name, Symbol, Atomic Mass, Density, and
the Electron Configuration of the element or elements. Remember, if you
are researching a birthstone there may be multiple elements involved. In
this case, name them all and then focus your information on one of them so the
report does not become overwhelming to you and excessively lengthy.
- Chemical properties - This section will cover how the element is
constructed (arrangement of atoms), how the element behaves, some compounds of
the element and how these compounds are used.
- Historical background: Include the person or persons responsible for
the discovery of the element, how the discovery came about, and the country and
year of discovery. Include the origin of the element's name. Some
elements were discovered prior to written history and therefore the discoverer
would be "Known to Ancients".
- Interesting facts or superstitions surrounding your element or birthstone.
Remember in folklore, ancient customs and some religions minerals and
gemstones often held roles of great significance to those who believed and were
though to carry curses for those who did not. See what you can "dig up".
- All projects are due no later than Friday, March 21, 2003. There will
be no exceptions. Plan your time accordingly and feel free to use my
computer or those available in the computer rooms or the library. DO NOT
WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE. If you do not have your project in class, on
time, I will not accept it. Trust me.
- Please be reminded that you are welcome to stay after school and work on this
project during the Homework Program if needed. The library is open after
school as well.
- We will have a class workshop on March 7, 2003. On this day you must
bring any materials that you have found relative to your project thus far.
You will be allowed to ask me questions or brainstorm with friends on how to
make your brochure as interesting as possible. You may want to use this
time to write a rough draft. Whatever you do, do not arrive to class
unprepared! If you would like to peruse any of my resources that's fine,
however make sure that you have made these arrangement in advance, not on the
day of the workshop and that you have come to class with other resources as
well.
- Please be advised that this is your project. I do not wish to read
multiple versions of the same project. Be sure your work is exactly that:
your work or it will not be accepted.
SCIENCE CURRENT EVENTS
Use this
link, 24/7
Reference, AND your public library card to access numerous Online Databases,
including Ebsco Host, Gale Group, Grolier Online, Informe!, etc.
The Why Files: The Science Behind the News
This website changes its front page every week, so the articles you see are
current. You can browse previous editions by selecting Archives. The
Archives link allows you to browse by Subject or Theme. Each category
will list numerous articles and provide you with the date they were first
published.
Astronomy Daily
The portal site for anyone with an interest inastronomy. Most webpages
on the site contain observing information updates in real time and customized
to your viewing locations and time zone.
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SCIENCE CURRENT EVENTS
Use this link,
24/7 Reference, AND your public library card to access numerous Online
Databases, including Ebsco Host, Gale Group, Grolier Online, Informe!, etc.
The Why Files: The Science Behind the News
This website changes its front page every week, so the articles you see are
current. You can browse previous editions by selecting Archives. The
Archives link allows you to browse by Subject or Theme. Each category
will list numerous articles and provide you with the date they were first
published. Prentice Hall
Web Acitivities Relating to Science Explorer.
PlanetDiary provides weekly
reports on environmental news and natural phenomena
such as volcanoes, earthquakes, floods,
hurricanes, and tornadoes. Click on
"Current Phenomena"
The
Science News Topics Page
correlates recently published articles to the topics you are studying.
Tools
NEW Microsoft Template: Brochure
Websites:
Visual
Periodic Table
This site takes awhile to
load but offers visual representations of elements.
Chem4Kids Periodic Table
Recommended by your Prentice Hall
textbook.
Altavista
Select Images and search by name of
element or birthstone.
ChemTeam Photo
Gallery
Images of people and things relevant to discoveries in
chemistry.
Birthstones
Click on any birthstone to see pictures, products, mystical
properties and more.
Birthstones -
Mineral Galleries
Includes pictures of birthstones.
Elements &
The Atom
Chemical Elements.com
Mineral Galleries
The
Periodic Table of Elements
Chemicool
from www.nineplanets.org
The Nine Planets website by Bill Arnett presents an overview of the history, mythology, and current scientific knowledge
of each of the planets and moons in our solar system.
The site was morphed into "The Nine Planets for Kids" by A. Finer, a senior student at California
Polytechnic University.
"The Nine Planets Scavenger Hunt" is from "Internet Sacvenger Hunts for the Topics You Teach"
by Karen Leiviska. ISBN 0-439-17034-6.
To find the answers to the questions on your worksheets visit the following web pages.
Facts About the Solar System - Worksheet #1
Visit The Nine Planets for Kids: Intro (http://mercury.nineplanets.org:8011/tnp4kids/intro.htm)
FUN SITE : Views of the Solar System - a
vivid multimedia adventure unfolding the splendor of the Sun, planets, moons,
comets, asteroids, and more. Discover the latest scientific information,
or study the history of space exploration, rocketry, early astronauts, space
missions, spacecraft through a vast archive of photographs, scientific facts,
text, graphics and videos. Views of the Solar System offers enhanced exploration
and educational enjoyment
of the solar system and beyond.
S. M. Smoller 11/24/2002
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