Material Sciences (Chemistry for Middle School)
Leading team:
- Dr. Zahava Scherz
- Prof. Bat Sheva Eylon
Project team:
- Dr. Marcel Freillich
- Merav Kfir
- Hanna Margel
- Debby Somech
- Dr. Malka Yayon
Secretariat and Administration:
Adi Dagan-DadushBrief
Development of instructional sequences for "materials science", which includes an understanding of the "great ideas" in the field, emphasis on relevance to the learner's life, and innovative pedagogies.
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:
- The teaching sequence for the Material Sciences curriculum materials;
- Methods for developing a sound understanding of the “great ideas” in the field;
- Approaches which emphasize the material’s relevance to the student, with the aim of achieving comprehensive scientific literacy for all students; and
- 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.
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.