Montessori Stellar Nucleosynthesis 3 part cards, presentation, extension work

Stellar nucleosynthesis is the formation of chemical elements through nuclear fusion reactions in stars. This Montessori-inspired stellar nucleosynthesis lesson is a big work with a cool name, but it is also simple enough to grasp at an elementary level. It serves as a fantastic introduction to the periodic table as well as the life cycle of a star. We introduce this lesson during the Montessori First Great Story: Coming of the Universe.

This bundle includes

• Three part cards: print pages twice, cut labels off one set and keep one set intact for matching work per traditional Montessori three part card work.
• Three part cards fill in the blanks: students write in labels. 
• Three part cards coloring fill in the blanks: cards have greyed out rings that are meant to be colored; students write in labels.
• Coloring and copy work page
• Color OR Black and white presentation template: Either print onto colored card stock or have students paint the circles. 
  • In total you will need to print / create:
    • 7 hydrogen (white / light grey) circles
    • 6 helium (light blue) circles
    • 5 carbon (black) circles
    • 4 neon (medium blue / teal) circles
    • 3 oxygen (red) circles
    • 2 silicon (gold / light orange) circles
    • 1 iron (orange) circle

The color of elements reflects the traditional CPK Coloring Guide (specifically JMOL). Recommended extension work following this lesson is building molecules with the chemical elements with Molymod molecular model kits (which utilize these same colors). In order to give a more consistent and concrete introduction to the chemical elements, I unified the color scheme between this lesson and extension work. Note that hydrogen is depicted as light grey rather than white only to stand out from the white background. 

An easy and straightforward presentation is to sequence each new chemical element by laying out the circles starting with the largest formed first (hydrogen) and matching it to the element card. Layer each new element alongside the cards until you get down to the smallest element formed (iron). 

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 Each step of the way the superheated plasma gets more dense and more superheated. More energy is added each level until we get to iron. We can see the elements getting heavier on the periodic table. Fusion stops abruptly with iron because iron absorbs energy and can’t sustain a high temperature. When the temperature drops the star collapses: kaboom -- a supernova. Here’s a great summary with images you could print out too.

Extension work: 

• Paint and collage your own stellar nucleosynthesis artwork.
• Learn the Bohr model and build atoms of the elements.
• Color a periodic table with matching colors. 
• Use the included coloring copywork. 
• Use included coloring / label DIY 3 part cards. 
• Research each element created in stellar nucleosynthesis.
• Learn the origin of the terms.  
• Learn a little about plasma. 
• Use elements in molecule building using a Molymod kit. 
• Learn about the Life Cycle of a Star