Build a Christmas Tree inspired by the Periodic Table!
1The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2020 was awarded jointly to two female scientists; Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer A. Doudna for the development of a method which lets scientists edit genes. Why is this important? Because researchers have been able to use this tool to develop crops that can withstand mould, pests and drouth whilst medical scientists are working on new cancer therapies using this tool to try and cure inherited diseases.
With Christmas fast approaching comes the perfect opportunity to learn a little bit about chemistry. And what better way to explore the chemical elements of the periodic table than to design and build your very own chemistry themed Christmas tree?
But what is the periodic table?
The periodic table is considered as one of the most important tools in modern science. It is literally a table, with all the elements that we know about, such as hydrogen, oxygen and iron, arranged depending on their properties.
Curiously enough, even though chemistry has been around for more than a thousand years, the periodic table was only created 150 years ago by Russian chemist Dmitri Mendeleev. Mendeleev organised all the elements discovered by then (only 63 at the time!), classified them according to their properties and left blank spaces for the unknown elements. After several contributions from various scientists from around the world, the table was finally completed with all 118 elements in late 2015. Scientists have now taken up the challenge of producing even heavier elements and, if they manage, the structure of the periodic table will change once again.
Upcycled Chemis-tree
Make a Chemis-tree using upcycled materials. In your design and built, make sure to include something related to Chemistry or the Periodic Table.
Get your materials ready!
Try it out!
Step 1 : Design
Design your Christmas tree on a piece of paper.
As you’re designing, answer these questions:
Step 2 : Build
Build your upcycled Christmas tree!
If you’re not up to building an entire Chemis-tree, why not add chemistry/periodic table inspired decorations to your existing ‘traditional’ Christmas Tree instead?
Step 3 : Create
Create chemistry themed decorations!
Be creative! We love this activity not just because it’s a great way of learning about the periodic table elements, but also because you need to think of ways of how you can visualize the elements in the periodic table.
Are you going to use objects made from specific elements? Are you going to draw them on a piece of paper? Paint them directly on your structure? Why not create decorations out using lab techniques such as chromatography? (All you need is some markers and coffee filters). Or make borax crystals! The possibilities are endless.
Step 4: Decorate!
Decorate your upcycled tree with your chemistry themed decorations!
Share your creation with us on social media
by tagging us on social media @esploramalta #esploramalta #getcuriousgetinspired
Be inspired & make it yours!
We ran a school competition in December 2019 where we encouraged students to work as a team or as a whole class to design and make an upcycled Chemis-tree. Students found creative ways of incorporating elements of the periodic table in their creation. Check out their amazing work!
Show us what you’ve made! Take a photo of at least 4 of your favourite activities from Esplora’s Science Advent Calendar. Trust us, you’ll need them 😉
