22
/Sep
18 Holiday Gifts Perfect For Science Geeks
Last June, the organization that officially recognizes the discovery of chemical elements and their names announced the proposed names for the final four elements on the periodic table. This governing body, the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC), took suggestions from the discoverers of the elements and then it issued the proposal. People could submit comments about the names for several months, and then in November, the IUPAC published the names. This was the final step in making them official.
The element names and atomic numbers are: nihonium (Nh) for element 113, which is named for the country of Japan; moscovium (Mc) for element 115, named for Moscow, Russia; tennessine (Ts) for element 117, named for the state of Tennessee; and oganesson (Og) for element 118, named after a Russian scientist who helped discover several elements, Yuri Oganessian. A new periodic table with these names is available at the IUPAC website, https://iupac.org/what-we-do/periodic-table-of-elements/ .
So what does this mean for the Montessori classroom? Children are ready for the abstract idea of chemical elements when they are in their elementary years. When they get an introduction to the periodic table, it should include the full set of names. Children should get a least a brief story of how elements get their names and how governing bodies of science fields bring order to science knowledge.
Children need to know, however, that there are elements that one cannot see with one’s eyes. There are quite a number of elements that are known only by the energy, particles, and atoms produced when they undergo radioactive decay.
The image below is from my newly updated card set, Discovering the Periodic Table. It comes with two sets of cards for all 118 elements, one in color and one in black and white. The card on the left is an example of the color set, and in this case sodium's symbol is color-coded red to show it is one of the alkali metals. The other card is the back of the black and white card, and it shows the type of information given for each element - physical properties, chemical properties, and other information. The front of the black and white card is like the card on the left, but with the symbol only outlined.
I updated and expanded Discovering the Periodic Table last summer after the new names were announced. At that time I added some features to help children understand the nature of the largest elements. The elements that cannot be made in visible quantities have symbols with a dotted outline rather than a solid one. The smallest of these is astatine, atomic number 85. Scientists have calculated that if one could make a piece of astatine, it would instantly vaporize itself because of the energy released by its vigorous radioactive decay.
If you tell children this, they may wonder how such an element was ever discovered. If they don’t think of it, help them arrive at this question. We want children to think about what they hear and ask about how we know what we know. The idea to search for astatine came from its place in the periodic table. Mendeleev left a blank beneath iodine on his first periodic table, implying that there was another element in the halogen family. Researchers that first identified this element used a nuclear reactor to bombard bismuth, atomic number 83, with alpha particles. This added two more protons to bismuth nuclei, and produced a small amount of astatine, which quickly decayed. Later, when researchers knew astatine’s characteristics, and they were able to find tiny traces of it in uranium ores.
After astatine, the next element that can’t be made in visible amounts is francium, atomic number 87. The dotted outline symbols don’t show up again until atomic number 101, mendelevium. It and all larger elements cannot be made in visible amounts. Researchers have made so little of elements 104-118 that the chemical properties of these elements are also unknown. In the cards with color-coded symbols from Discovering the Periodic Table, elements 104-118 have gray symbols to show that there is not enough evidence to assign them to a chemical group such the halogens.
Your children may ask if more elements can be discovered. In theory there could be, but if someone does discover more elements, it will be bigger science news than any recent element discovery. Meanwhile, help 6-9 year-olds explore the common everyday elements with the cards set, Elements Around Us from InPrint for Children. The set, Element Knowledge, will help 9-15 year-olds learn element names, symbols, and several significant groups. This set includes the first 11
Stay organized with these science-themed notebooks
These handmade notebooks have an academic-looking chalkboard finish.
You can choose from a caffeine molecule, Einstein's famous E=MC2 equation, the numbers of pi arranged in a spiral, or the human brain.
These would make for great lab notebooks, or a just a great place to jot down ideas.
Solve math problems on-the-go with a foldable whiteboard.
This foldable whiteboard is perfect for physicists who need to work out an equation when their not at a desk. It folds neatly into a short stack about the size of an index card.
Now if sudden scientific brilliance strikes in an inconvenient place, like the bus or a restaurant, you'll be prepared.
Decorate your home with scientific symbols made into hanging art.
Etsy
You can decorate your home with symbols from your favorite science field with these posters.
Options range from the Antikythera mechanism (an old analog computer) to the penicillin molecule.
Brew a fresh cup of tea with a test tube-shaped tea infuser.
ThinkGeek.com
Now you can feel like a mad scientist while brewing your tea.
All you have to do is open test tube, pour in the tea leaves, and set the test tube in a mug of hot water. The specially designed tube allows the tea flavor to diffuse out into the water.
Keep your caffeine addiction under control with a chemistry beaker mug.
Amazon
This mug is perfect for chemists and good way to keep track of just how much coffee you're drinking.
Just be careful not to mix it up with your real chemistry set.
Update your wardrobe with a T-shirt of mushrooms from around the world.
Etsy
As members of the fungi group, mushrooms get a bad rap. But the botanist in your life will appreciate this mushroom T-shirt.
The shirt is also good for the environment. It's made with nontoxic dye and environmentally-friendly ink.
Go back in time with vintage anatomy wall prints.
Etsy
These artistic vintage prints of human body parts were salvaged from old anatomy textbooks.
The images were scanned in and retouched before being reprinted.
Watch "Blackfish," the controversial documentary about the SeaWorld whale Tilikum.
Magnolia Pictures
This movie is a must-watch for any animal lover. The documentary about the SeaWorld whale Tilikum that killed his trainer takes a hard look at the way animals are treated in captivity.
Stay cozy with cosmic and astronaut-themed pillows.
Etsy
Amateur astronomers who spend all their free time at night peering up at the sky through their telescope will love these cosmic-patterned pillows.
You can even buy one with a close-up selfie shot of an astronaut in space.
Spice up an outfit with a DNA charm necklace.
Etsy
Geneticists or biologists can now keep their work close to their heart with a DNA necklace.
The necklace is made of sterling silver.
Read the "The Book of Barely Imagined Beings," an A-Z listing of 27 strange creatures.
University of Chicago Press
"The Book of Barely Imagined Beings," by Caspar Henderson, is set up like an old world bestiary, but with a modern science twist.
It highlights little known facts about animals from all over the world. Even common animals have some surprising traits we never think about.
Stay warm in a dinosaur-themed Christmas sweater.
Etsy
A science geek would much rather wear a dinosaur Christmas sweater than a traditional reindeer or snowman sweater.
Show off a serotonin hormone ring.
Etsy
Serotonin is the hormone that makes us happy, and you'll probably make your science geek friend happy with this gift.
If you don't like the serotonin idea, you can custom order any molecule you like and change the birthstone colors.
Liven up your office or bedroom with historical science wall decorations.
Etsy
You can celebrate how far science has come with these retro science wall decorations. The designs are etched in copper and come ready to hang.
Patterns include Chaucer’s astrolabe, Kepler's Mars Retrograde, and Ptolemy’s model of the galaxy.
Make men happy with these physics-inspired cuff links.
Etsy
But physics isn't the only science field represented. You can also find pairs with maps and architecture designs.
Impress guests with these scientists quotes.
Etsy
Commemorate your favorite scientist with these stick on prints. The prints are made of self-adhesive vinyl and you can even custom order your favorite scientist quote.
The one pictured is a quote from Aristotle: "The mathematical sciences particularly exhibit order, symmetry and limitations; and these are the greatest forms of the beautiful."
See our planet in a whole new light with a book of stunning aerial photos of Earth.
Phaidon
The eARTth book by photographer Bernhard Edmaier and author Angelika Jung-Hüttl, is a collection of beautiful photos of Earth's surface. The book includes landscapes ranging from frosty tundras in Iceland to the tropical terrain of the Bahamas.
The book is organized by color to show the wide range of colors you can find on Earth's surface.
Watch life flourish inside the EcoSphere.
eco-sphere.com
The EcoSphere, developed by EcoSphere Associates, Inc., is a complete mini-ecosystem enclosed in a glass sphere. It contains micro-organisms, tiny shrimp, algae, bacteria, and sea water.
The sphere's ecosystem has an average life expectancy of two years and requires little maintenance.
1 elements. You can add the names and symbols of the other seven if your children are interested. They certainly won’t see those symbols in any chemical formulas.
The element names and atomic numbers are: nihonium (Nh) for element 113, which is named for the country of Japan; moscovium (Mc) for element 115, named for Moscow, Russia; tennessine (Ts) for element 117, named for the state of Tennessee; and oganesson (Og) for element 118, named after a Russian scientist who helped discover several elements, Yuri Oganessian. A new periodic table with these names is available at the IUPAC website, https://iupac.org/what-we-do/periodic-table-of-elements/ .
So what does this mean for the Montessori classroom? Children are ready for the abstract idea of chemical elements when they are in their elementary years. When they get an introduction to the periodic table, it should include the full set of names. Children should get a least a brief story of how elements get their names and how governing bodies of science fields bring order to science knowledge.
Children need to know, however, that there are elements that one cannot see with one’s eyes. There are quite a number of elements that are known only by the energy, particles, and atoms produced when they undergo radioactive decay.
The image below is from my newly updated card set, Discovering the Periodic Table. It comes with two sets of cards for all 118 elements, one in color and one in black and white. The card on the left is an example of the color set, and in this case sodium's symbol is color-coded red to show it is one of the alkali metals. The other card is the back of the black and white card, and it shows the type of information given for each element - physical properties, chemical properties, and other information. The front of the black and white card is like the card on the left, but with the symbol only outlined.
I updated and expanded Discovering the Periodic Table last summer after the new names were announced. At that time I added some features to help children understand the nature of the largest elements. The elements that cannot be made in visible quantities have symbols with a dotted outline rather than a solid one. The smallest of these is astatine, atomic number 85. Scientists have calculated that if one could make a piece of astatine, it would instantly vaporize itself because of the energy released by its vigorous radioactive decay.
If you tell children this, they may wonder how such an element was ever discovered. If they don’t think of it, help them arrive at this question. We want children to think about what they hear and ask about how we know what we know. The idea to search for astatine came from its place in the periodic table. Mendeleev left a blank beneath iodine on his first periodic table, implying that there was another element in the halogen family. Researchers that first identified this element used a nuclear reactor to bombard bismuth, atomic number 83, with alpha particles. This added two more protons to bismuth nuclei, and produced a small amount of astatine, which quickly decayed. Later, when researchers knew astatine’s characteristics, and they were able to find tiny traces of it in uranium ores.
After astatine, the next element that can’t be made in visible amounts is francium, atomic number 87. The dotted outline symbols don’t show up again until atomic number 101, mendelevium. It and all larger elements cannot be made in visible amounts. Researchers have made so little of elements 104-118 that the chemical properties of these elements are also unknown. In the cards with color-coded symbols from Discovering the Periodic Table, elements 104-118 have gray symbols to show that there is not enough evidence to assign them to a chemical group such the halogens.
Your children may ask if more elements can be discovered. In theory there could be, but if someone does discover more elements, it will be bigger science news than any recent element discovery. Meanwhile, help 6-9 year-olds explore the common everyday elements with the cards set, Elements Around Us from InPrint for Children. The set, Element Knowledge, will help 9-15 year-olds learn element names, symbols, and several significant groups. This set includes the first 11
Stay organized with these science-themed notebooks
These handmade notebooks have an academic-looking chalkboard finish.
You can choose from a caffeine molecule, Einstein's famous E=MC2 equation, the numbers of pi arranged in a spiral, or the human brain.
These would make for great lab notebooks, or a just a great place to jot down ideas.
Solve math problems on-the-go with a foldable whiteboard.
This foldable whiteboard is perfect for physicists who need to work out an equation when their not at a desk. It folds neatly into a short stack about the size of an index card.
Now if sudden scientific brilliance strikes in an inconvenient place, like the bus or a restaurant, you'll be prepared.
Decorate your home with scientific symbols made into hanging art.
Etsy
You can decorate your home with symbols from your favorite science field with these posters.
Options range from the Antikythera mechanism (an old analog computer) to the penicillin molecule.
Brew a fresh cup of tea with a test tube-shaped tea infuser.
ThinkGeek.com
Now you can feel like a mad scientist while brewing your tea.
All you have to do is open test tube, pour in the tea leaves, and set the test tube in a mug of hot water. The specially designed tube allows the tea flavor to diffuse out into the water.
Keep your caffeine addiction under control with a chemistry beaker mug.
Amazon
This mug is perfect for chemists and good way to keep track of just how much coffee you're drinking.
Just be careful not to mix it up with your real chemistry set.
Update your wardrobe with a T-shirt of mushrooms from around the world.
Etsy
As members of the fungi group, mushrooms get a bad rap. But the botanist in your life will appreciate this mushroom T-shirt.
The shirt is also good for the environment. It's made with nontoxic dye and environmentally-friendly ink.
Go back in time with vintage anatomy wall prints.
Etsy
These artistic vintage prints of human body parts were salvaged from old anatomy textbooks.
The images were scanned in and retouched before being reprinted.
Watch "Blackfish," the controversial documentary about the SeaWorld whale Tilikum.
Magnolia Pictures
This movie is a must-watch for any animal lover. The documentary about the SeaWorld whale Tilikum that killed his trainer takes a hard look at the way animals are treated in captivity.
Stay cozy with cosmic and astronaut-themed pillows.
Etsy
Amateur astronomers who spend all their free time at night peering up at the sky through their telescope will love these cosmic-patterned pillows.
You can even buy one with a close-up selfie shot of an astronaut in space.
Spice up an outfit with a DNA charm necklace.
Etsy
Geneticists or biologists can now keep their work close to their heart with a DNA necklace.
The necklace is made of sterling silver.
Read the "The Book of Barely Imagined Beings," an A-Z listing of 27 strange creatures.
University of Chicago Press
"The Book of Barely Imagined Beings," by Caspar Henderson, is set up like an old world bestiary, but with a modern science twist.
It highlights little known facts about animals from all over the world. Even common animals have some surprising traits we never think about.
Stay warm in a dinosaur-themed Christmas sweater.
Etsy
A science geek would much rather wear a dinosaur Christmas sweater than a traditional reindeer or snowman sweater.
Show off a serotonin hormone ring.
Etsy
Serotonin is the hormone that makes us happy, and you'll probably make your science geek friend happy with this gift.
If you don't like the serotonin idea, you can custom order any molecule you like and change the birthstone colors.
Liven up your office or bedroom with historical science wall decorations.
Etsy
You can celebrate how far science has come with these retro science wall decorations. The designs are etched in copper and come ready to hang.
Patterns include Chaucer’s astrolabe, Kepler's Mars Retrograde, and Ptolemy’s model of the galaxy.
Make men happy with these physics-inspired cuff links.
Etsy
But physics isn't the only science field represented. You can also find pairs with maps and architecture designs.
Impress guests with these scientists quotes.
Etsy
Commemorate your favorite scientist with these stick on prints. The prints are made of self-adhesive vinyl and you can even custom order your favorite scientist quote.
The one pictured is a quote from Aristotle: "The mathematical sciences particularly exhibit order, symmetry and limitations; and these are the greatest forms of the beautiful."
See our planet in a whole new light with a book of stunning aerial photos of Earth.
Phaidon
The eARTth book by photographer Bernhard Edmaier and author Angelika Jung-Hüttl, is a collection of beautiful photos of Earth's surface. The book includes landscapes ranging from frosty tundras in Iceland to the tropical terrain of the Bahamas.
The book is organized by color to show the wide range of colors you can find on Earth's surface.
Watch life flourish inside the EcoSphere.
eco-sphere.com
The EcoSphere, developed by EcoSphere Associates, Inc., is a complete mini-ecosystem enclosed in a glass sphere. It contains micro-organisms, tiny shrimp, algae, bacteria, and sea water.
The sphere's ecosystem has an average life expectancy of two years and requires little maintenance.
1 elements. You can add the names and symbols of the other seven if your children are interested. They certainly won’t see those symbols in any chemical formulas.
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