1. ● This presentation is for the instructor only, templates for the Element Cube are provided as a separate document. ● This is a 3-day lesson where students will fill in their templates and construct Element Cubes which will be constructed after each student completes research on an assigned element. ● Cube sides include: Element symbol and name, images, physical & chemical properties of the element, where the element sits on the Periodic Table, background and history of the element, and uses of the element Element Cubes– Properties of the Periodic Table http://earthref.org/SCC Scripps Classroom Connection

2. ● Opening Question: Can you think of any elements you see or use in your daily life? ● Have students briefly discuss and record their answers in their journals. ● After students discuss, assign each student an element (you can use the same ones as last week for consistency, or have them choose their own) ● Pass out laptops or go to the library and have the students begin research. ● Have students start by searching in Encyclopedias and at http://education.jlab.org/itselemental/index.html or http://www.webelements.com http://education.jlab.org/itselemental/index.html http://www.webelements.com Day 1 Scripps Classroom Connection http://earthref.org/SCC

3. ● Opening Question: What is your favorite fact about your element so far? ● Have students briefly discuss and record in their journals. ● After discussion or having a few students share, students can return to their element cube research, this may take the rest of the day but should be nearly complete by the end of Day 2 Day 2 Scripps Classroom Connection http://earthref.org/SCC

4. ● Opening Question: Why are elements important? ● Have students briefly discuss and record in their journals. ● Finish element cubes ● After discussion, have students get into groups of 3-4 and discuss their elements. Each student should share 3 facts about there elements with the other members of their group. ● The remainder of the day can be used to design and set up an experiment growing crystals. Day 3 Scripps Classroom Connection http://earthref.org/SCC

5. Materials Hot plate Large glass beaker which can hold 6-8 cups of liquid 4 cups sugar 2 cups water Class set of little jars String Class set of pencils or popsicle sticks To make crystals: ● Stir 4 cups of sugar slowly into 2 cups of simmering water and then let is cool once all of the sugar is dissolved ● This can be done on a hot plate in front of the room ● As you are doing this, discuss with students where the sugar is “going” ● Is it disappearing? Growing Crystals Scripps Classroom Connection http://earthref.org/SCC

6. ● Explain to students that they will be making observations throughout the next week, keeping track of their growing crystals. ● Have students record the experimental set-up, procedure, and some hypotheses in their journals. ● A simple drawing will suffice for experimental set-up ● Tell students to draw their experimental set-up so that they can record changes over the next week Experimental Science Scripps Classroom Connection http://earthref.org/SCC

7. ● Tell students to think over the weekend about what solutions in their kitchens might be able to grow crystals, and where they see examples of crystals growing on a day-to-day basis. Learning Goals that should be addressed throughout this lessson: ● Know that matter is made up of atoms which undergo infinite rearrangements ● Understand how atoms form well-ordered molecular structures based on their properties as well as the common properties of salts and sugars. Scripps Classroom Connection http://earthref.org/SCC Conclusions