The Disappearing Spoon: And Other True Tales of Madness, Love, and the History of the World from the Periodic Table

Describe and evaluate the author’s method of using storytelling to make scientific concepts more relatable to a broader audience. Use these points to formulate your response.

• How does Kean describe elements?
• How do his methods make his work more memorable and engaging?
• What stories or anecdotes from Kean’s work are the most memorable to you?
• What are the possible disadvantages of Kean’s approach to scientific concepts?
• How might these methods help to broaden an audience's understanding of the elements?

Teaching Suggestion: Students may find it beneficial to access the book as they analyze the ways in which Kean relates to his audience. Consider allowing students to create written responses prior to discussing the prompt.

Differentiation Suggestion: Students who require assistance with analysis may find it beneficial to focus on responding to the bulleted points. Consider providing students with a presentation paper to record their reactions to the questions. It may be helpful to then have them find specific examples of Kean’s style to share with peers.