Purpose
About this pathfinder This pathfinder was created to be used by an eighth grade classroom learning about the Periodic Table of Elements. It is to be used in conjunction with the student’s science book. The classes will begin their unit on chemistry by looking into what is inside an atom and finishing by discovering chemical reactions (chapters 3-7 in their textbook). About half way through the students will be given a project to help create a Wikipedia based upon the elements of the Periodic Table. (Please see the link in the extension portion of this pathfinder) The Periodic Table includes many forms of information, and this pathfinder was created to keep the students organized in their discovery of the elements and make the information easily accessible as well.
Electronic Materials The Periodic Table of Elements is ever present in the world of science. It involves many corner stones of scientific research and the basis for many discoveries. However, it can be confusing to understand. The electronic materials (websites, interactive, and audio/video materials) in this pathfinder should help the students understand that the elements are not merely letters on a chart.
Criterion for Selection Materials used in this pathfinder were selected for young adults ages 13-18. It was not designed for elementary use. Scirus, Google, and other portals were used in locating the websites, interactive, and audio/video materials. All of these materials listed were valid as up the last updated dated. The books listed were all part of the collection at Garrett Middle School and openly accessible to the students. Summaries were written to help explain which ones would be most beneficial to the student. The Audio/Visual materials were found on the internet. Some were available through a Discovery Education Streaming subscription. These will be viewed in class as well for the students to determine which element would be interesting for them to discover more information. |