Letters - July 2007
Philately and chemistry and Blood - be aware
Philately and chemistry
From Gabriel Pinto
Over the years there has been a number of postage stamps issued to celebrate scientific discoveries or honour well-known scientists and these can be used as simple yet powerful teaching tools in the classroom.1 I use a chemistry-related postage stamp from Spain (pictured right) with my first-year undergraduate students to introduce several concepts related to the Periodic Table. I set this as a collaborative learning activity (with groups of three students) and discuss with the students their answers. This example could also be used as a problem for students to tackle individually or to start a discussion during a lecture.
I begin by telling my students about the postage stamp, which was issued in Spain on 2 February 2007 - the Spanish Year of Science. Inspired by the stamp, I set them three challenges.
1. Comment on why this stamp has been issued (anniversary, symbolism of figure etc).
2. Explain what is represented by the spaces coloured in blue, red, yellow and green, and comment on their dimensions.
3. Comment on the importance of the 'little white squares', represented in the red and yellow zones, in the history of the development of the Periodic Table.
By working individually, in groups or by class discussion the students arrive at the solutions.
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