East Detroit Public Schools
Lesson Design

Authors: Lynn Dawson and Mary Jankowski
Subject: Science
Grade:7th Grade
Title: The Elements

Length of Unit: Two to four days
Materials Needed:
Power Macintosh G3 computers (with Internet capabilities)
large TV monitor
VCR
gumdrops
licorice
The Elements (video)
Elements (CD-ROM program)

Standards-Based Outcomes (MDE):

Science:

IV. Use Scientific Knowledge from the Physical Sciences in Real-World Contexts

Content Standard IV, 1: All students will measure and describe the things around us; explain what the world around us is made of; identify and describe forms of energy; and explain how electricity and magnetism interact with matter. (Matter and Energy)

2. Explain how families of elements are related by common properties.

4. Describe matter as consisting of extremely small particles (atoms) which bond together to form molecules.

5. Describe the arrangement and motion of molecules in solids, liquids, and gases.

Prior Knowledge:

• Students must be familiar with the fact that everything is made of matter.
• Students must be familiar with the fact that atoms are the building blocks of matter.

Cue Set:

The teacher begins by showing the video The Elements. The video serves as an introduction to the unit. It presents the concepts of the periodic table, molecules, and pure substances.

Best Shot Instruction:

• The students form groups of two and research elements assigned to them by the teacher.
• The students progress through the CD-ROM program Elements as a beginning of their research of their elements. They follow the lesson on the computer and answer questions as they proceed.
• The students then use the Internet to research additional information about their elements. They print copies of the material found and submit it to the teacher with their element models.
• The students finally work in their groups to create atoms out of gumdrops and licorice. The atom models should also have keys which include the atomic masses, names, and numbers of protons, neutrons, and electrons.
• The students present their models to the class and read the research information found on the Internet.
  

Reteaching and Enrichment:

The classroom presentations of the models and information serve as reteaching. The teacher could also provide texts containing information about several individuals who discovered different elements and how their discoveries occurred.

Review and Closure:

To review for the test on this unit, the students can play “Element Jeopardy”. The game features questions and answers about the periodic table and the elements.
(The teacher prepares the answers ahead of time and the students then form the correct questions at the time the game is played.)

Assessment:

• The students submit their research and atom models for evaluation.
• The students present their work to the class.
• The students demonstrate 80% mastery on tests and homework assignments.

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