1  The Atom project details

2  Due:

*  Periods 5b, 7, & 8 11-25, 2008

*  Periods 2, 3 & 4 11-25-2008



3  There are three distinct parts to the atom project:

3.0.1  A full color data rich poster and an accompaning three minute speech all about the element you were assigned. This part (3.0.1) is the main part of the project and is at least 65% ( 195 points ) of the three hundred points possible

3.0.2  A set of "flash-cards" that will contain some of the most important data about the first one-hundred and nine elements. This part of the assignment (3.0.2) is worth 30 % of 300 points ( 90 points )

3.0.3  A "homemade" model of the atom that you were assigned. This is the fun part of the project. It's worth just 5%, but it is supposed to be fun. ( 15 points )1

4  Let us examine the requirements one at a time:

The Poster. 2  

   A data-rich poster will be constructed of a standard sized piece of foam posterboard. The poster will detail the history (who discovered the element), sources (is it mined, or manufactured), and the elements principle uses. Top grades will be given for complete information displayed in a visualy interesting, and apealing manner. The poster is the visual aid to an interesting informative three minute presentation about the information on the poster. I will be asking some questions of you during the presentation, so make sure you actually know what it is that you are talking about.3 See the posters mounted in my room for some examples of top projects from the past.  You must document all of your sources.
*  The Flash Cards.

   *  The flash cards will consist of one-hundred and eleven 3" by 5" or smaller index card type pieces of paper. If the flash cards are made of colored paper, the step of coloring them to match the periodic chart in the book; metals are blue, nonmetals are yellow, the metalloids are green - can be eliminated. Many people use colored 8" x 10" construction paper cut into pieces.4 Any color scheme will work, but be sure to tell which colors are which elements. Again there will be examples in my room for you to look at. A great source of this information can be gotten from the Internet. Try Web Elements Online http://www.webelements.com . . .

   *  These flash cards will contain:
  1. The name of the element. For example Hydrogen.
  2. The elemental symbol. Example - H is for Hydrogen.
  3. The elemental atomic mass.
  4. The elemental atomic number.
  5. The state of matter that the element exists in on earth
  6. What type of element it is. Metal, Non-Metal, or Metalloid. (The color of the paper will do this for you.)
  7. The elements melting and boiling point in degrees C.
The model of the atom.  

   The model of the atom can be made in any number of ways. The best are made from common household objects. Recycled items are the best. The old standby pa pier mache' has been used to great lengths in this project. Styrofoam, balls, hoops, and rods are very good materials. Colored beads make great electrons. 5If enough people are interested I will conduct a Pa pier Mache' Clinic. Remember no one has ever seen an atom, so have fun making the model. There are many examples of past projects in my room. Do not be afraid to try something new. Many of the best models were innovations in their own rights.6  

Footnotes:

1I use a rubric to grade all of these projects. The grading rubric will be available on my website: http://www.herkes.org/atom_rubric.html,
and can be used to assess how you will do on the project. Look at it if you get confused the night before the project is due!

The flash card rubric:
http://www.herkes.org/flash_card_rubric.html.
2Involve your parents in this project. Many of them have hidden talents, and were actually pretty good at projects like this when they were your age. Parents, they're not just to hassle you about your room anymore! Heck, you might even find that you LIKE them.
3This is why you never let your parents do the entire project.
4Note. Keep the expense of this project to a minimum. Colored flash cards are nice, but very expensive. You can get an entire package of colored paper for the cost of one small package of colored flash cards. Buy the paper, and split it with someone else.
5Petroleum based spray paint has been the cause of death of too many fine projects. Use the water based stuff if you want colored Styrofoam.  Brush on acrylic paint is cheap and works very well.  Water wash-up too.
6I have had models made from baling wire, marshmallows, welding rod, toothpicks, and memorably a Boston Creme Pie.  NO Food Products or paint balls.

File translated from TEX by TTH, version 3.70.
On 28 Oct 2005, 15:52.