Text Set #2: Atomic Theory

1.  History of Atomic Theory Song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07yDiELe83Y

Level:  10th grade

This song is good for the introduction of atomic theory, especially the important people involved in the founding of atomic theory.  The history of atomic theory is important and students should be familiar with the names and important experiments involved in its founding, but normally the presentation is dry.  This song offers interest to the material and potential memory aid for students.

2.  Bohr Model of Hydrogen
http://www.explorelearning.com/index.cfm?method=cResource.dspDetail&ResourceID=506 

Level:  8th grade

This interactive simulation acts as an introduction to Bohr's model of atomic structure.  The simulation allows students to shoot photons through a container of hydrogen gas.  The photons are absorbed based on their energies and cause electrons to move to different orbits.  This introduces the idea of Bohr's model of electrons in specific orbitals (energy levels) around the nucleus.

3.  Where Do Chemical Elements Come From?  -Article
http://www.acs.org/content/dam/acsorg/education/resources/highschool/chemmatters/archive/chemmatters-oct2009.pdf

Level:  9th grade

This article discusses the theory behind the formation of elements in space.  As students learn about atomic make-up and the composition of the nucleus, it would be interesting to speculate on the process of formation rather than just the discovered make-up of atoms.  This article comes from the ChemMatters site, is highly accessible reading, and has figures and photos that add interest to the material.

4.  Atomic Charge cartoon
http://chemteach.heartrockranch.net/cartoons.htm

Level:  3rd grade

This cartoon would be perfect for beginning a class period on ions and charges of atoms.  It is humorous and accurate.  The cartoon could aid in the memory of students as they learn that the gaining and losing of electrons are responsible for the charge of ions.

5.  PhET Build an Atom simulation
http://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/build-an-atom

Level:  8th grade

The interactive atom building simulation on the PhET site allows students to build atom models using protons, neutrons, and electrons.  Students are able to see how the adding and taking away of protons, neutrons, and electrons affects the identity, charge, and/or mass of the element.

6.  PhET Build an Atom teacher aid/student guide
http://phet.colorado.edu/en/contributions/view/3468

Level:  9th grade

This page is a resource for teachers hoping to use the PhET simulation in their classroom as an inquiry activity for students.  The page provides lesson plans, homework guides, and post-lab guides.  The documents could be easily modified and adapted for any high school chemistry classroom.

7.  Khan Academy presents:  Electron Configuration
https://www.khanacademy.org/science/chemistry/orbitals-and-electrons/v/electron-configurations

Level:  10th grade

This video could act as either a supplementary assignment, reteaching tool, or extension piece.  Presentation, although dry, is very clear and could help to further explain the theory behind and execution of electron configuration.  Students will see example problems and could follow along on their own if necessary.

8.  Electron Configuration Song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vb6kAxwSWgU&feature=player_embedded

Level:  7th grade

Electron Configuration can be difficult for students.  The orbital levels, if not understood conceptually, must be memorized.  For students who choose to memorize the levels, this song could be very helpful.  It is also humorous and quite catchy.  The video not only offers a memory aid, but explanation of the concept as well.

9.  Electron Configuration interactive simulation
http://www.explorelearning.com/index.cfm?method=cResource.dspDetail&ResourceID=513

Level:  10th grade

ExploreLearning offers an online simulation for electron configuration that allows students to fill in electron orbitals to determine the configuration.  It also offers an explanation for trends in atomic radii in addition to the configuration.  Finally, the site provides a teacher's guide and a student exploration sheet.

10.  Timeline Maker
http://www.softschools.com/teacher_resources/timeline_maker/

Level:  No grade level

This online tool would be ideal for teaching the history of atomic theory.  It would allow students to create their own timeline documenting important findings and experiments in the history of atomic theory.  Students could complete this project in class, as homework, or as an extra credit assignment.

11.  The Periodic Table song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUDDiWtFtEM

Level:  No grade level

The periodic table of elements song is catchy and fun to break up a class session or to introduce the elements.  Students will enjoy the song and many of the elements are put into context so that they will have a better understanding of where the elements come into play in the world/their lives.

12.  The Periodic Table of Comic Books
http://www.uky.edu/Projects/Chemcomics/

Level:  Varies based on the comic

This sight allows students/teachers to choose any element on the periodic table and choose from a list of comics that include the element in some form.  There are many comics to choose from, some educational, some fun.

13.  Create the Periodic Table activity
http://www.chemheritage.org/discover/online-resources/chemistry-in-history/activities/path-to-the-periodic-table.aspx

Level:  7th grade

This sight has a teacher guide and a student guide for an inquiry activity that allows the students to create the periodic table for themselves based on the trends that they see in the element cards provided to them.  Hopefully, students will better understand the organization of the elements on the periodic table and the characteristics that give the table its structure.

14.  Modern Chemistry
Holt, Rinehart, and Winston.  (2006).  Modern Chemistry.  Orlando; Austin:  Holt, Rinehart and Winston.

Level:  8th grade

The textbook that Hardin Valley Academy uses for its chemistry courses could be a useful resource for students as supplementary material.  It may also offer explanation that better suits some students' learning styles.  The textbook gives practice problems that could be useful for repetition as well.

15.  Online Practice:  Electron Configuration
http://preparatorychemistry.com/Bishop_comp_electron_config_Flash1.htm

Level:  No grade level

This sight offers online practice for writing electron configurations for elements on the periodic table.  The lesson gives a 10 question quiz as well as guidance for solving the problems.  This sight would be great for a homework, reteaching, or supplementary assignment for students who are struggling or need more practice with the material.

Reflection #10

This week, there was a c-span recording posted about millennials and the millennial generation.  As a general critique, the presentation was a bit boring, but some of the information was surprising to me.  In our society, as technology and social media continue to improve and increase, there has been talk of a new generation of students who is misunderstanding the value of education and personal knowledge.  Some argue that education should remain teaching without incorporating new technology (deemphasizing the importance of technology and social media), while others argue that education should shift to accommodate the emphasis on technology.  Some also argue that as a general rule, the intelligence of students has decreased as dependence on technology has increased.  The video presentation offered some interesting insight regarding the general IQ of the millennial generation.  The speaker noted that the IQ of the upcoming generation is the highest recorded of any generation.  These results do not only apply to the US, but transfer internationally across many countries around the world.  Now, honestly, I do not know enough about IQ testing to know whether or not the test is out of date or if it is somehow a misrepresentation of the intelligence of people in our current society.  But I do know that in my experience with students, their general intelligence is NOT the issue when trying to teach curriculum.  The issue, it seems, is behavioral/motivational.  So, as we continue to develop plans for educational improvements, we must focus on inspiring motivation, employing technology use, and using the resources that are available to students at virtually any time.

Web Resource #2

http://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/education/resources/highschool/chemmatters.html

ChemMatters Magazine online is a resource for chemistry teachers and students that claims to "demystify chemistry".  There are multiple options for use of the site in a high school classroom.  Teachers have the option of subscribing to the magazine for a fee, but the site also offers a limited number of articles from the issues online for free.  The articles in ChemMatters magazine focus on the chemistry that is present in everyday life.  The writers attempt to connect with students' interests and everyday experience and explain phenomena on a level that is understandable by the layman.  Generally, the articles are kept under a couple of pages and offer many graphics, drawings, and pictures to supplement the reading.  Students would enjoy the option of many of these texts in studying a subject as opposed to studying in the context of a far removed experience or setting.

The online site also offers teachers ideas on how to implement their materials in the classroom (homework assignments, extra credit, supplementary reading, daily reading, review, etc.).  Along with articles and ideas, there are many short videos available for classroom use that take the same approach as the articles to meeting students where they are, but offer the information in a visual and auditory form.

Common Core Standards

Here are my two cents on common core standards and there implementation:  I like the idea of common core.  The emphasis on analysis, critical thinking, and authentic assignments is crucial for student learning and future concept application.  For science, good teaching is common core.  The idea of cross-cutting concepts and/or cross-curricular connections is also an emphasis that is necessary.  To make knowledge fluid and easily adaptable, students have to use it in a number of different settings in school and out of school.  Unfortunately, I think the tactic for implementation is flawed.  The all-in approach that school systems are taking where common core standards are implemented at every grade level right off the bat does not make a lot of sense to me.  It seems that funding, material gathering, teacher training, etc. would be much more easily achieved if the grade levels came in to common core standards one by one.  For example, the first year first grade would implement them.  The next year, second grade, etc.  Then, the students who began in the standards would continue and finish in them and can be better held accountable for their learning.