Our science classes are somewhat unique when compared to standard science classes. As our school is an arts integrated school, and students are often asked to use their artistic abilities to demonstrate their understandings of scientific concepts in addition to traditional methods.
Our science students are from all walks of life, most of them being intercity and minority.
Additionally, we are a Title I high school with more than half of our students qualifying for free and reduced lunches. Regardless of their backgrounds, our students are eager to learn and are effective in coping with our rigorous department standards. Most are not afraid to seek help when needed, and many of our top performing students actively participate in our after school tutoring programs. They are also excited to learn science through hands-on labs and will take advantage of opportunities to discover beyond traditional lab assignments.
My Project
The interactions of light and matter have been instrumental to our understanding of the structure of the atom. To help our students gain insight to how light from energetically excited elements contributed to our understanding of an atom's structure, they will use spectroscopes to refract light from spectrum tubes into atomic spectra. Students will then compare the spectrum of different elements to each other and to common light sources. By observing the distinct bands of monochromatic light that originate from the excitement of single element sources, students will see the same phenomena used to help derive the quantum mechanical model of how electrons are arranged around the nucleus of an atom. Additionally, students will see how each element and compound radiates a unique spectrum that allows scientists to determine the elemental makeup of unknown chemicals here on earth and even the elemental makeup of stars and planets.
The experiments require students to relate light patterns emitted from energized elements to the structure of atoms and then to document the spectra they observe using chemistry, math (to calculate the energy, frequency, and electron energy level transitions of electrons), physics, and English skills.
The end result is that students will gain invaluable experience in solving complex problems that will help them in college and their professional careers.
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Dr. Schuerch and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
