SUPERHERO/SUPER-VILLAIN
Create a superhero, or super-villain, whose characteristics are based on the properties of your element. You
must draw, AND COLOR, your superhero on 8 ½ X 11 inch paper, as well as write a short story about him/her.
The story must be a minimum of one page in length and include information about your element. Your
character’s strengths/qualities MUST relate to the element’s properties! It should be designed to help readers
learn about the element while telling a story.
Your story rough draft must include the 10 qualities (underlined) that relate to your element. The draft must be
checked by a peer and then the teacher before completing the good copy. The draft is worth 5 marks.
Requirements for your superhero / super-villain story and drawing:
Drawing must include at least 5 qualities of the element
o Use the entire page (8 ½ X 11) leaving very little white space
o Show both physical AND chemical properties
o Color your character, matching physical qualities of the element
Example:

If sulfur is your chosen element, the superhero’s uniform or hair or skin, etc. must be yellow
since sulfur has a characteristic yellow color.
o List the qualities illustrated in drawing on the back of the drawing page on the top.
o Below this list include your “Works Cited”- follow the correct format as outlined on the library
reference sheet or use EasyBib.
Story
o
Minimum of one typed page in length (1 ½ space, 12 point typed)
The following details must be smoothly incorporated into your story about your superhero or villain:
1) A minimum of 10 qualities related to the element.
Underline each quality in your story.
 Physical properties such as texture, state at room temperature, looks, brittleness, melting and
boiling point,
 Chemical properties such as atomic structure (name, symbol, atomic number, mass, period),
reactivity with other elements, family, classification as either a metal, non-metal, or
metalloid, conductivity etc.
 Why this element might be important to humans/plants/other organisms or in compounds or
molecules
2) Include a brief background on your character that explains the element’s history;
 who discovered it, when, where, and how it was discovered
3) Incorporate a minimum of 3 uses of the element in the story
Examples:
o “Heath Helium’s day job is to fill party balloons at the local gift shop.”
o Carbon has a very high melting point – “Captain Carbon walked through the fire unharmed to
save the young boy.”
o Fluorine can attack glass – “Super-Fluorine and his corrosive personality magically made the
glass disappear.”
4) Enchant your audience with at least two interesting facts not already included above.
CATEGORY
Element Information
smoothly
incorporated into
story
10 Qualities X 2
(underlined or
bolded)
Uses and Facts
(underlined or
bolded)
History
Drawing X 2
Professionalism and
Works cited
Total
4
3
2
1
Information about the element is
smoothly incorporated into the
storyline so that the story is fun
to listen to and interesting.
Information about the element
is generally smoothly
incorporated into the storyline.
An attempt has been made
to incorporate some
information about the
element into the story.
More information should
have been included.
At least 10 qualities of the
element have been included in
the story and underlined. These
traits are used as part of the
story and play a role in the
superhero’s or villain’s
successes or failures and make
the plot exciting.
At least 8 qualities of the
element have been included in
the story and underlined. These
traits are important to the
superhero’s or villain’s
successes or failures and make
the plot more interesting.
At least five qualities of
the element have been
included in the story.
These traits sometimes
help to develop the plot or
the characteristics of the
superhero or villain.
The story is hard to
follow because
information about the
element is not smoothly
incorporated into the
story. Insufficient
information included.
Only a few qualities of
the element have been
included in the story.
There use does not really
enrich the story or help
to develop the plot or
characteristics of the
superhero or villain.
At least three important uses of
each element as well as several
interesting and significant facts
about the element are included
in the story.
A brief history of the element is
included in the story which
helps the audience understand
where the villain or superhero
came from by answering all the
questions of who, when, where
and how the element was
discovered.
At least three uses of each
element and one interesting fact
about the element is included in
the story
Only two uses are given
and one fact about the
element is included in the
story.
A brief history of the element is
included in the story which
helps the audience understand
where the villain or superhero
came from by answering most
of the questions of who, when,
where, and how the element
was discovered.
Some history facts are
included in the story but
they do not help the
audience grasp how or why
the superhero or villain
came to be important to the
story.
The drawing of the
superhero/villain shows an
exceptional degree of originality
in its creation. It fully meets
criteria as outlined. It is neatly
coloured, covers an 8 ½ X 11
sheet, appropriately shows at
least five important qualities of
the element.
All content and graphics are
accurate and there are no
spelling or grammatical errors. It
is obvious that the story was
carefully organized and has at
least five sources which have
been properly cited and included
with the drawing. URL
included.
The drawing of the
superhero/villain fully meets
criteria as outlined. It is neatly
coloured, covers an
8 ½ X 11 sheet, appropriately
shows 5 qualities of the
element.
The drawing of the
superhero/villain meets
some criteria as outlined. It
is coloured, covers at least
half of an 8 ½ X 11 sheet,
shows at least three
qualities of the element.
All content and graphics are
accurate with a few spelling or
grammatical errors. The story is
organized and makes sense.
At four sources have been
properly cited and included
with the drawing. URL
included.
There are many spelling or
grammatical errors but
most content and graphics
are accurate. At least two
sources have been cited
(not necessarily properly)
and included with the
drawing.
Research:
/5 Story Draft:
/5 Project:
/ 32 Presentation:
Several required
facts/uses were missing
or used in a manner that
is inappropriate and/or
confusing.
Most facts about the
history of the element
are not included in the
story or there use makes
the story confusing or
does not explain how the
superhero or villain
came to be important to
the story.
The drawing of the
superhero/villain meets
few criteria as outlined.
It is not coloured or it is
messy. It is does not
cover most of an
8 ½ X 11 sheet and/or it
shows two or less
qualities of the element.
There are several errors
in the content and
graphics used. More
proofreading and
organization is needed.
Works cited are not
properly cited or not
included.
/15 Total:
/57 =
%
Oral Presentation: First introduce your element by including significant information from your “Record of
Research” sheet that is not in your story but helps audience understand the significance of your element to
society, inanimate objects and the universe. Then tell your story to the class with high energy and voice
inflection, make your presentation interesting! Summarize and recite story from memory if possible. Act and
dress like the superhero. Be informative and creative. Have Fun!
Assessed on:
1) Snapshot – organized, clear, rehearsed, entertaining, interesting and informative
2) Content
o
o
o
o
Demonstrates an understanding of applications of element in everyday life and significance to humanity, other
organisms, inanimate objects and/or relevance to the universe
Story summarized or recited in full.
Details shared are interesting and relevant.
Correctly explained scientific terms used with correct pronunciation
3) Delivery – Eye contact, use of props and visuals, pacing, use of gestures and voice, appropriate volume, story sharing is
memorized and may be summarized. Please do not read from notes/book.