Meet an Element

"Highlights" from presentation portion of a month long science project on the Periodic Table of Elements. Each of my students chose an element, completed internet research on the history, properties, and uses of the element, designed a poster, and presented his/her findings on the element to the class. I was fairly impressed with the creativity of my students- some even brought in props or dressed in relevant costume for the presentation.

"Silicon is used to make sand. Oh and breasts."

Oh, thanks, Omar! I'm really excited about the onslaught of parent phone calls I get to field now!

"Phosphorus is found in many colors. There is red phosphorus, white, and black. Phosphorus is a very useful element. It is used to make plates and cups, pesticides, fireworks, toothpaste, detergents, and explosives...like hand grenades. This is a picture of white phosphorus. The Israelis use it to murder the Palestinians in Gaza. It burns their insides."

Just my luck, the kid who chose phosphorus- a month ago before any of this happened- is actually from Gaza.