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December 13, 2003
New world record? By Allen Lottinger, Jr. On Thursday, ninth grade physical science students at Hahnville High established what they hope is a new category for the Guiness Book of World Records. The six sections of Ken Oertling’s created a large periodic table of elements using 112 pieces of poster board. Each board included the element name, symbol, atomic number, and atomic mass. The table was pieced together on the high school’s football field. The students have been studying the elements since the beginning of the year. Thursday’s activity was the culmination of the lesson. “I try to have the students do one big project each year,” said Oertling. “The idea for the table was put forward by some of the students at the beginning of the semester.” After deciding on the project, students took the initiative and contacted officials with the Guiness Book of World records. Officials instructed the students that a picture of the completed table would be needed and that a representative from the organization could possibly come down to verify the size. Oertling said that it was too late for the new category to be published in the 2004 book of records, but that if the record holds it will appear in the 2005 edition. “I could be broken next year since it is a new category,” he said. Nevertheless, many of the students said the project gave them something to look forward to while learning their element tables. Some said it even helped them to focus better on the material that was being taught in the classroom. “It helped me to better learn the different characteristics of the elements,” said student Jamie McWilliams. Others said that establishing the new record even made the day to day school work fun. “I loved creating the table, it was fun,” said student Ashley Dufrene.
Allen Lottinger, Jr. can be reached at AllenL@heraldguide.com or at 758-2795, ext. 224.
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