Material Sciences (Chemistry for Middle School)

Leading team

Project members

Summary

The Material Sciences for Middle School project started in 1994 and resulted in the development of a series of learning and teaching materials as part of the MATMON curriculum (1996-2002), and – beginning in 2010 – a new, revised curriculum series, titled MATMON HADASH (“new MATMON”).

Over the course of this project, several developments were introduced:

  1. The teaching sequence for the Material Sciences curriculum materials;
  2. Methods for developing a sound understanding of the “great ideas” in the field;
  3. Approaches which emphasize the material’s relevance to the student, with the aim of achieving comprehensive scientific literacy for all students; and
  4. Research-based pedagogies which support meaningful learning and teaching: primarily the integration of contents and high order skills, student-based approaches, and applying IT and a variety of approaches to facilitate students’ diversity.

These developments were supplemented by further research on the subject, focusing on students’ conceptualization of the structure of matter, using a longitudinal conceptual methodology which analyzed the challenges faced by students and their comprehension of the particulate model: from particles to atoms and molecules. We also studied the feasibility and potential contribution of using models (such as “the black box”) and high-resolution microscopy, such as the Scanning Tunneling Microscope (STM), as a learning tool for the particulate model of matter in middle school science classes.

Links for further reading

  • Margel H., Eylon B. and Scherz Z.*, “‘We actually saw atoms with our own eyes’: Conceptions and convictions in using the scanning tunneling microscope in junior high school”, Journal of Chemical Education, 81(4), 558-564, 2004 .
  • Margel H., Eylon B. and Scherz Z.* “From Textiles to Molecules – Teaching about Fibers To Integrate Students’ Macroscpic and Microscopic Knowledge of Materials”, Journal of chemical education, Vol. 83, 1552-1557, 2006 .
  • Margel H., Eylon B. and Scherz Z.* “A longitudinal study of junior high school students’ conceptions of the structure of materials”, Journal of Research in Science Teaching., 45(1), 132-152, 2008 .
  • Yayon M. and Scherz Z.*, “The Return of the Black Box”, Journal of Chemical Education, 85( 4), 541-543, 2008.
  • Nussbaum, J. “Particles and Vacuum”, Student book, The Weizmann Institute of Science, 2000.
  • Yechieli, T. & Nussbaum, J. “Particles and Vacuum”, Teacher Guide, The Weizmann Institute of Science, 2000.
  • Yaion M., Margel C. and Scherz Z., “Elements and Compounds – Inside the Atom”, Student book, 231 pgs, The Weizmann Institute of Science, 2001.
  • Elran, K., Shchrai, Z., Yaion M., and Scherz Z., “Elements and Compounds – Inside the Atom”, Teacher guide, 166 pgs., The Weizmann Institute of Science, 2001.
  • Elran, K., Shchrai, Z., Yaion M., and Scherz Z., “Elements and Compounds – Inside the Atom”, Teacher guide, 166 pgs., The Weizmann Institute of Science, 2001.
  • Margel, H. “about Fibers”, Yaion M., Margel C. and Scherz Z., “Elements and Compounds – Inside the Atom”, Student book and teachers’ guide, The Weizmann Institute of Science, 2001.
  • Sa’ar L., Kesner M. & Scherz, Z. “The Paints Rout – Materials in Industry” (Student book & Teacher guide), 148 pgs. The Weizmann Weizmann Institute of Science, 2003.
  • Somech, D. Kfir, Merav, Levy-Nahum, T. & Scherz, Z.. (2013) Materials – the Journey, In B. Eylon, A. Yarden & Z. Scherz (Eds.), Exploring Matter and Energy (Vol. 1), (A student text, a digital book and a teacher guide, The Amos de-Shalit Israeli Center for Science Teaching), grade 7.
  • Kfir, M., Somech, D. & Scherz, Z. (2013). Particles – the Journey , In B. Eylon, A. Yarden & Z. Scherz (Eds.), Exploring Matter and Energy (Vol. 1), (A student text, a digital book and a teacher guide, The Amos de-Shalit Israeli Center for Science Teaching), grade 7.
  • Freillich, M. & Scherz, Z. (2013). Elements – the Journey , In B. Eylon, A. Yarden & Z. Scherz (Eds.), Exploring Matter and Energy (Vol. 2), (A student text, a digital book and a teacher guide, The Amos de-Shalit Israeli Center for Science Teaching), grade 8.
  • Freillich, M. & Scherz, Z. (2013). Elements – the Journey , In B. Eylon, A. Yarden & Z. Scherz (Eds.), Exploring Matter and Energy (Vol. 2), (A student text, a digital book and a teacher guide, The Amos de-Shalit Israeli Center for Science Teaching), grade 8.