More than 100 Regents Chemistry students in grades 10-12 participated in the 10th Annual Element Symposium at Churchville-Chili Senior High School this March. Chemistry teacher Kimberly Walter said, “The Symposium gives students a chance to use their research skills and their knowledge about the elements—the basic building blocks of all matter—to see how chemistry is truly part of their lives.”
The student-centered learning project was planned in conjunction with class studies of the Atomic, Periodic Table and the Physical Behavior of Matter units. Each student had a month to research an element and then prepare a presentation. They learned about the element’s physical and chemical properties, its history and how it is used in their everyday lives. At the final event, each student presented a visual display of facts about the featured element, and answered questions posed by their peers or visiting guests.
“Students are encouraged to be creative,” said Walter. “That creativity serves to make the facts much more memorable. During the Symposium, they share their excitement for learning, and they learn from each other. They reflect on their own work and evaluate their peers in a respectful environment. This inspires curiosity and conversation. It gives students a chance to demonstrate their knowledge and be proud of their accomplishment.”
The Element Symposium project challenged students to use creativity and incorporate the process of scientific inquiry. It enhanced their understanding of chemistry by allowing each to reflect on the relevance of what they learned and share that knowledge with others in the school community.
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