Theme | Metals, Non-metals and their significance |
Relevant Grades | Class 6, 7 & 8 |
Key Learning Objectives |
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Session Duration | 1 Hour (Approximately) |
- THE MISSION
There is a huge crisis in your city where there is a lot of garbage mixed with a lot of metals and non-metals. There is such a massive piling of garbage that the residents of the city are getting infected by diseases and are suffocating to death. You have been given a role of a solid waste management researcher who is responsible for separating metals and non-metals so that they can be utilised for various purposes and the garbage reduces leading to a cleaner city. The player has to separate the metals and non-metals into two buckets and the rest of the garbage can be recycled through proper means. You have been given 5 minutes’ game time to collect as many metals and non-metals to get more and more points.
- CONCEPTS
Metals and Non-metals are different types of materials present around us. Elements can be divided into metals and non-metals and it is important to know whether a particular element is a metal or non-metal. Metals (like copper and aluminium) are good conductors of heat and electricity, while non-metals (such as phosphorus and sulphur) are insulators. Materials are distinguished as above, based on their properties.
- What are metals?
Just Majority elements in the periodic table are metals. This includes alkali metals, transition metals, lanthanides, actinides and alkaline earth metals. Metals are separated by non-metals on a periodic table through a zigzag line starting from carbon, till radon. The elements between the two are phosphorus, selenium and iodine. These elements and elements right to them in the periodic table are non-metals. Elements present just to the left of the line are termed as semimetals or metalloids. These will have the combined properties of both metals and non-metals. Non-metals occupy the upper right-hand portion of the periodic table. Considering the properties of non-metals, it is not shiny, malleable or ductile nor are they good conductors of electricity. These properties of non-metals provide one means by which we can distinguish metals from non-metals.
Properties of Non-metals have less in common with each other than metals. Their physical and chemical properties vary widely. Some non-metals are solids and some are gases at room temperature.
- What are non-metals?
Very few elements in the periodic table are non-metals. These are present on the right-hand side in the periodic table. Elements that come under non-metals are sulphur, carbon, all halogens, phosphorus, hydrogen, oxygen, selenium, nitrogen and noble gases.
In the periodic table, non-metals are located to the left of the halogens and to the right of the metalloids. Since noble gases and halogens are also non-metals, these elements are often referred to as non-metals.
- Properties of metals
Some physical properties of metals:
- Shiny (lustrous) in nature
- Metal is a good conductor of electricity and heat
- Density and melting point is high
- Mouldable (Malleable)
- Ductile
- At room temperature, it is in solid form except for mercury
- Opaque
Some chemical properties of metals are listed below:
- Easily corroded
- Can lose electrons
- Form basic oxides
- Have low electronegativity
- Good reducing agents
- Properties of non-metals
Some physical properties of non-metals are listed below:
- Poor conductors of electricity and heat
- Non-Ductile metals
- Brittle solids
- Maybe solids, liquids or gases at room temperature
- These are not sonorous
- Transparent
Some chemical properties of non-metals are listed below:
- The number of electrons in the outer shell is generally 4-8
- Easily gain or lose valence electrons
- Form acidic oxides whenever they come in contact with oxygen
- High electronegative elements
- Great oxidizing agents
Non-metals and metals take different forms (allotropes). They have different shapes and properties. Allotropes are elements that exist in two or more than two different physical forms.
- Example 1: A non-metal carbon – two allotropes of carbon are diamond and graphite.
- Example 2: A metal such as iron – two allotropes of iron are austenite and ferrite
Have a look at the given table depicting the major differences between Metals and Non-metals for better understanding.
- Differences between metals and non-metals
A reactivity series is a vital tool for chemists. It helps us to understand the properties of metals and the differences between them.
Metals | Non-metals |
These are solids at room temperature except mercury | These exist in all three states |
These are very hard except sodium | These are soft except diamond |
These are malleable and ductile | These are brittle and can break down into pieces |
These are shiny | These are non-lustrous except iodine |
Electropositive in nature | Electronegative in nature |
Have high densities | Have low densities |
GAME DESIGN
- Problem statement
There is a huge crisis in your city where there is a lot of garbage mixed with a lot of metals and non-metals. There is such a massive piling of garbage that the residents of the city are getting infected by diseases and are suffocating to death. You have been given a role of a solid waste management researcher who is responsible for separating metals and non-metals into 2 buckets given so that they can be utilised for various purposes and the garbage reduces leading to a cleaner city. The player has to separate the metals and non-metals so as to reduce the garbage pile and the rest of the garbage can be recycled through proper means. Separate as many metals and non-metals possible to achieve more score.
- Game design overview
Imagine, there is a huge crisis in your city where there is a huge pile of garbage mixed with a lot of metals and non-metals. There is such a massive piling of garbage that the residents of the city are getting infected by diseases and are suffocating to death. You have been given a role of a solid waste management researcher in the game who is responsible for separating metals and non-metals so that they can be utilised for various purposes and the garbage reduces leading to a cleaner city. The player has been given 2 buckets where you have to strategically separate the metals and non-metals leading to reduce the garbage. There are more than 100 metals and 100 non-metals in the garbage pile which need to be separated. You have 3 minutes of game time in which you have to separate and collect as many metals and non-metals in the 2 buckets strategically. Remember that don’t put 5 non-metals in metal bucket and vice-versa otherwise the game gets over. Each correct metal separation will fetch you 10 points and non-metal separation will fetch you 5 points. Collect as many points as possible to achieve high score.
- How to design the game?
- Step I
Imagine, there is huge pile of garbage mixed with a lot of metals and non-metals. The garbage is mixed with more than 100 metals and 100 non-metals. You have been given a task to separate them into 2 buckets. But remember to do it strategically as metal separation will fetch you more points than non-metals. This task is to be completed within 3 minutes.
Hint: If the metals and non-metals are not separated in a fast manner, you will lose on high score. Separate as much as possible within 3 minutes. The score will not be shown on the screen during the game but the calculated score will be shown at the end. The timer immediately starts as the game begins.
- Step II
While separating the metals and non-metals, please ensure to not do the mistakes. Remember if you put a 5 metals in a non-metal bucket or vice-versa, your game gets over as you have been given only 5 chances to make mistakes. Also, each metal separation will fetch you 10 points and non-metal will fetch you 5 points.
Hint: You have to move around the pile of garbage to find materials and as you keep finding materials, decide immediately and move to the bucket but don’t make mistakes while doing the separation. The counter for metals and non-metals will be present and not the score on the screen.
- Step III
The metals and non-metals will be counted and the number will be added and seen in the screen. After the time gets over, the metal count and non-metal count will be scored on the basis of 10 points for each metal and 5 points for each non-metal will be calculated and shown on the screen as the highest competitive score.
Hint: The game doesn’t get over till 3 minutes are over. The game will get over only if you make 5 mistakes of wrong separation.
- ASSESSMENT
Learning Objective Based Evaluation (0-1) | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | ||
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Higher Order Thinking Skills | Problem Solving | Critical Thinking | Innovation | Creativity | ||
Q5 | Q6 | Q7 | Q8 | Q9 | Q10 | |
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Learning Objective Based Evaluation Total Score | /4 |
Higher Order Thinking Skills Total Score | /8 |
Total Score | /12 |
Learning Objective Based Evaluation
1 point Questions:
Q1. Which of the following components is electro-positive in nature?
- Metals
- Non-metals
- Both a & b
- None of the above
Q2. Which one of the following statements is not a property of a non-metal?
- These exist in all three states
- These are non-lustrous except iodine
- These are malleable and ductile
- All of the above
Q3. Which of the following statements is a chemical property of a metal?
- Form basic oxides
- The number of electrons in the outer shell is generally 4-8
- Both a & b
- None of the above
Q4. Where are non-metals situated in the periodic table?
- Left lower part of the table
- Right upper part of the table
- Left lower part of the table
- None of the above
Evaluation of HOTS (Higher Order Thinking Skills)
Identification of the Problem Statement:
Q5. What is the goal of the game that you have designed? (1 point)
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Q6. Does the game designed solve the problem? Justify your answer. (1 point)
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Solution of the Problem Statement:
Q7. What are the types of metals you have seen being used in daily life? (1 point)
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Q8. What are the various uses of metals and non-metals in humans? Quote a few uses? (1 point)
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Innovation in the Problem Statement:
Q9. What are the innovative aspects of the solution for which the game is designed? (2 points)
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Creativity in the Game Design:
Q10. Describe and explain the unique design elements used in the game. (2 points)
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