Element Superhero!

Yesterday we played a fun game to identify commonly-used elements from the periodic table! Scientists use their knowledge of element properties and characteristics to use elements in creative ways.

To further explore this, each student has chosen one element from the periodic table. They will research it a bit, using videos from TED Ed Periodic Table or other resources online.

Then, turn the element into a superhero or villain!! You need to think about your element as a person. What would it do with its superpowers based on the element’s characteristics?

So, first, here are the questions you should try to answer as you research the basics of your element:

  • What is your element? (Gas, metal, non-metal, etc.)
  • What is your element’s atomic number, atomic weight, and symbol?
  • What are the physical properties of your element? (color, weight, size, malleable, hard, etc.)
  • What are the chemical properties of your element? (reactive, reacts with what, how does it react, etc.)
  • What is your element used for? What can you make with it?
  • Where can you find this element?
  • What other elements often combine with your element?
  • Any other interesting facts you can find out?

Then, after you have found out the basics, now you can start to think creatively about how those characteristics of your element can be used to create a superhero character!

  • Will your element be a superhero or a villain? (or both?)
  • What is your character’s name? (doesn’t need to be the element, but should probably have part of it in the name)
  • What symbol would your character have on its supersuit? (Would it have a supersuit? or something else?)
  • Would your element look like a person, or something else? What do they look like based on your element’s physical properties? (Get creative!)
  • Would your element have specific powers? For example, do their chemical properties give them powers? (Else why would they be a superhero??)
  • Would your element have certain weaknesses? (All good superheroes have at least one.)
  • What does your element do every day? For example, if it is a villain, what kind of thing does it want to do that could be related to your element’s real-life information? Or, if it is a superhero, what good things can your element do for others?
  • What is your element superhero or villain’s origin story? How did they become powerful and decide to be a superhero or villain?
  • Where does your element superhero/villain live? Do they have a hideout?
  • Do they have an arch nemesis or superhero they are trying to defeat?
  • What additional element superheroes or villains could combine with your hero to make them more powerful?

Find out information and the next step will be to design an actual superhero in art and to write about them.

I look forward to creating our own table of superhero and villain elements.

Basic research is due by May 3rd, and there will be some class time to do some of the research.

Have a good night,

Ms. D