Activity Overview
Students will create a linear model using data from the periodic table - atomic number and atomic mass - and make predictions about "missing" or "unknown" elements.
Before the Activity
Have Element cards made to distribute at the beginning of class for the activity. Students will be responsible for submitting information for the element on their card.
If periodic tables are not easily available in your classroom, send the Periodic APP to all students via TI Navigator.
During the Activity
1) When students obtain the atomic number and atomic mass for their element, allow them to contribute the information through a form to ensure accuracy.
2) The atomic numbers are whole numbers and the masses are not. You can check for transposing errors before submitting the lists back to the class for the exploration.
3) In Activity Center, allow students to contribute best fit equations while in the Graph tab. Discuss student responses.
4) Have students predict the atomic mass of tungsten (74), gold (79), and einsteinium (99) through quick poll/learning check questions.
5) Stop Activity and instruct students to exit Navnet.
6) Calculate the error for each prediction. Discuss the reasons for error.
7) Find the regression model for the data. Submit the model with accuracy to the thousandths position. Note the correlation coefficient. Relate the coefficient to the discussion on #6.
8)Our model is a continuous one...Ask the students in a Quick Poll to calculate the y-value of the model if x = 75.98. Does this value have real world implications?
9)How might the model have been used to help discover "new" elements?
After the Activity
Review student answers:
As a class, discuss questions that appeared to be more challenging
Re-teach concepts as necessary