Gold Seal Lesson:
A Penny For Your Thoughts

Copernicus Education Gateway

Subject:

Science

Grade:

9-12

ICLE Standards:

Science:
Science as Inquiry - Develop the abilities of scientific inquiry.
Physical Science - Develop an understanding of structure of atoms.

Mathematics:
Mathematical Connections - Use and value the connections between mathematics and other disciplines.
Algebra - Apply algebraic methods to solve problems.

Performance Task:

Note to teacher: In the pre-lab discussion, students should gain the understanding that most, but not all, elements are composed of mixtures of two or more isotopes. In this task they will simulate isotopic composition using pre-1982 and post-1982 pennies. The composition, and therefore the masses, of these two pennies differ. Avoid 1982 pennies as there were seven different minting of pennies in 1982.

In this task, you will simulate the isotopic composition of an imaginary element pennieum. Your teacher will give you a sealed opaque container, containing a mixture of ten pennies, some pre-1982 and the rest post-1982.

Your container might contain any combination of the two "isotopes." Your task is to determine the isotopic composition of the element pennieum without opening the container. You have available for your use an empty container identical to the one holding your pennies, several pre- and post-1982 pennies, and a balance scale.

Note to the teacher: If all students' containers are identical, you might give them the mass of the container rather than an identical container.

Knowledge / Skills:

Know and apply the principles of scientific inquiry.  (s114)

Use stoichiometry to compute quantitative relationships implied by chemical formulas (e.g., find the percent composition by mass of an element in a compound and the simplest ratio in which the atoms combine to form a compound) and chemical equations (e.g.

Understand the use of variables in expressions such as 4x, x+2, and 2x-1, solve for the variable, and know how to represent expressions such as "twice the number" or "four more than the number" using variables.   (m7)

Rubric:

4 Points  =  The student independently designs an experiment meeting the conditions of the inquiry. He/she is able to apply scientific and mathematical knowledge to carry out the inquiry. The student arrives at the correct isotopic composition of the element pennieum.

3 Points  =  The student needs coaching to design an effective experiment that meets the conditions of the inquiry. He/she has difficulty applying scientific and mathematical knowledge to carry out the inquiry. The student arrives at the correct isotopic composition of the element pennieum only with coaching.

2 Points  =  The student requires much coaching to design an experiment meeting the conditions of the inquiry. He/she has little understanding of isotopes and the structure of atoms. The student is unable to apply any scientific or mathematical knowledge to carry out the inquiry and does not arrive at the correct isotopic composition of the element pennieum.

1 Point  =  The student is unable to complete the inquiry. He/she does not arrive at an isotopic composition of the element pennieum. The student displays no knowledge of isotopes or the structure of atoms.

Keywords:

CHEMISTRY
MEASUREMENT
ALGEBRAIC OPERATIONS

Grades:

Kg [] - 1 [] - 2 [] - 3 [] - 4 [] - 5 [] - 6 [] - 7 [] - 8 [] - 9 [X] - 10 [X] - 11 [X] - 12 [X]

ICLE Application:

D

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