Subject: Chemistry, Science, Mathematics
Grade Level: 8-12
Materials: Computers, PowerPoint and Excel software, index cards, markers, stickers, samples of metals and non-metals (copper pennies or wire, iron nails, mercury thermometer, aluminum foil, lead strips or lead shot, helium balloon, carbon pencil lead or charcoal, sulfur, etc.), and circuit /battery voltmeter for testing conductivity (optional)
About: This unit focuses on the categories and patterns of the periodic table of elements. Students learn about the categories and trends of the table and apply this information to make predictions about an element's properties. Throughout the course of the unit, students experience interactive PowerPoint lectures, make and interpret different graphic representations, complete lab work, and create, as a group, their very own periodic table.
Students will create their very own periodic table.
This unit combines mathematical thinking and scientific information. Students learn how to identify, categorize, generalize, and make predictions about elements based on their placement in the periodic table. They learn basic scientific ideas from interactive PowerPoint lectures and visit different websites to enhance their studies and look at specific trends or patterns. From listening to "The Element Song" to creating their very own periodic table, they gain an appreciation for how elegant, informative, and essential the periodic table is.
While this unit is a cornerstone for any chemistry class, it could also be integrated into mathematics courses to help students learn to read non-linear graphs of real-world data. Students learn that numerical patterns or trends are not perfect in the real world, yet basic scientific and mathematical thinking can be very helpful in making predictions. Furthermore, they learn that one pattern can lead and be directly connected to other patterns, studying the real world of matter is complex and yet not chaotic, and that one periodic trend can explain other phenomena.
www.nylearns.org/tredican
Students learn to read the periodic table and realize it saves time and prevents misunderstandings to organize information in a systematic way so global scientists can communicate with each other effectively. |
Students learn that there are different types of elements with common properties, and these elements have practical uses in the real-world based on these properties. |
Students learn the periodic trends of the Table of Elements including atomic radius, ionization energy, electronegativity, and electron affinity. |
Students gain an appreciation of the different elements of the perioid table. They look at the properties and uses of elements, compare different elements relative to one another, and should be able to make predictions about an element's properties based on its placement on the periodic table. |
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The main link to my class website where you can find PowerPoint lectures and additional websites used for class discussions or projects |
http://nylearns.org/webpage/viewpage.aspx?ID=136348&UID=25397 |
A great song by Tom Lehrer, " The Element Song", contains the elements of the periodic table set to music. I offer 50 bonus points to any student who learns the song by heart and sings it to the class before the end of the school year! Good fun, and students usually want to hear the song multiple times, so plan extra time in your lesson for this. |
http://privatehand.com/flash/elements.html |
FunBrain Periodic Table Review Game has three different levels to allow for differentiated instruction. This site helps get students familiar with the periodic table by having students learn elements' names and symbols. |
http://funbrain.com/periodic/index.html |
A game called "Rags to Riches". It's like "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?" and helps students review their electron configurations, periods, and valence electrons. |
http://quia.com/rr/183760.html |
A game called "Battleship", which can be a one- or two-player game, helps students learn about the types of elements on the periodic table. Students learn to identify metals, metalloids, and non-metals based on their periodic table placement. They will need a periodic table to play this game. |
http://quia.com/ba/87233.html |
This site uses Java. Periodic trends are shown using bar graphs and visual color shading. Students can look at atomic radii, IE, EN, density, and boiling point trends. |
http://chemmac1.usc.edu/java/ptable/ptable.html |
Interactive Periodic Table to show the Atomic Radii trends. |
https://college.hmco.com/chemistry/intro/zumdahl/intro_chemistry/5e/students/protected/periodictables/pt/pt/pt_ar5.html |
A movie from Harvard University covering ionization energy, atomic radii, electro-negativity, and electron affinity (Length: 20 minutes). It uses fun graphics to illustrate concepts like IE. |
http://mste.uiuc.edu/resources.php?id=202 |
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Students use inductive reasoning to construct, evaluate, and validate conjectures and arguments, recognizing that patterns and relationships can assist in explaining and extending mathematical phenomena. |
8-12 |
Mathematical |
Students understand and apply scientific concepts, principles, and theories pertaining to the physical setting and living environment and recognize the historical development of ideas in science. Matter is made up of particles whose properties determine the observable characteristics of matter and its reactivity. |
8-12 |
Science |
Students use mathematical analysis, scientific inquiry, and engineering design, as appropriate, to pose questions, seek answers, and develop solutions. |
8-12 |
Science |
Information technology is used to retrieve, process, and communicate information and as a tool to enhance learning. |
8-12 |
Information Technology |
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Day 1: The Building Blocks of the Universe |
Students learn that there are different types of matter. Scientists have studied and created categories of matter according to their composition; this is similar to the way people categorize different kinds of foods or music. |
Students learn that the known universe is comprised of just over 100 different elements. Everything from our sun to shooting stars, from the Hudson River to the pyramids in Egypt, from DNA to Coca Cola, from worms to humans, from rocks to the air we breathe, are all made from the elements that are listed on the periodic table. |
The periodic table is organized into Periods and Groups/Families. |
All of the elements in the same family have similar properties, just as you may be similar to the people in your family, |
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Periodic tables for each student |
computer, LCD projector, speakers or individual computers |
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Do Now: Students complete a word search where the clues are element symbols and the answers are element names. |
PowerPoint Lecture Unit 2, Lesson 1 about Types of Matter. I discuss that organizational charts or "org charts" are useful not only in science, but in business. An org chart in business may show the companies employee organization from the CFO/CEO to the presidents, supervisors/managers, researchers/business teams, assistants, receptionists, etc. |
Play "The Element Song" by Tom Lehrer, which is a song of essentially all of the elements of the Periodic Table (usually students request to hear it more than once). I offer a challenge of 50 bonus points to whomever learns the song by heart and sings it in front of the class. I give students unril the end of the school year to complete the challenge. |
Have students find elements of the Periodic Table only given the name or symbol, then raise their hand. Time the group. Then, have students find elements having been told the period and group numbers. Time the group. Discuss the effectiveness of the period and group number system. Let them know that this system goes far beyond efficiency, and they will learn more about the hidden patterns of the periodic table in the upcoming days. |
FunBrain Periodic Table Review Game has three different levels to allow for differentiated instruction. This site helps get students familiar with the periodic table by having students learn elements' names and symbols. http://funbrain.com/periodic/index.html |
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Students review how to read the periods and groups of the Table. Students also preview the next lesson about periods relating to electron shells and groups relating to valence electrons. |
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Ticket to Leave: List at least 2 ways that organizing information in charts or table is not only helpful but essential to scientific work. |
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Day 2: Periods and Families |
Students learn that period and group numbers are important, not only for organizational effeciency, but these number relate to the internal structure and workings of each element. |
Students learn that the number of shells an element has is the period number. |
Students learn what valence electrons are. |
Students learns that the number of valence electrons an element has relates to the group number. |
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computer, LCD projector |
stickers, markers, index cards |
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Do Now: Students complete a crossword puzzle where the clues are period and group numbers and the answers are elements' names. |
Lesson 2 interactive PowerPoint lecture that relates period numbers to electron shells and group numbers to valence electrons. |
Students play interactive online game called "Rags to Riches" that helps students review their electron configurations, periods, and valence electrons. |
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Review of lesson, as students identify elements given a period and group number; also, students identify period and group numbers when given an element. In addition, students preview the next lesson on metals, metalloids, and non-metals. |
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Students each receive an index card with a different symbol on it. They write the elements period and group number, then use stickers to denote how many valence electrons the element has. |
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Day 3: Metals, Metalloids, and Non-metals |
Students learn the 3 categories of elements. Students can identify an element's category based on its placement on the periodic table. |
Students can identify an element as a metal, metalloid, or non-metal based on its physical properties. |
Students learn the physical and chemical properties of metals and non-metals. |
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computer, LCD projector |
samples of metals and non-metals (ordered from a science catalog or gathered everyday objects) |
optional: battery/voltmeter, lightbulb circuit |
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Do Now: Students use their homework and prior knowledge to write an introduction paragraph for their lab worksheet and to answer a couple of questions for understanding. (See Properties of Metals and Nonmetals Lab document.) |
Briefly go over homework. |
PowerPoint Lecture about the 3 types of elements: metals, metalloids, and non-metals. Pictures of each type are shown throughout the presentation and properties of each type are included. [Remember your metalloids, "Boring Silly ..."; boron, silicon, germanium, arsenic antimony, telurium, and polonium. I encourage students to come up with the own mnemonic devices.] |
Students complete lab in small groups or as a large group demonstration/observation. Students look at properties of metals and non-metals. Properties such as color, state of matter, malleability, and the ability to conduct electricity are studied. For the electrical conductivity test, a voltmeter and a battery circuit could be used or a battery/lightbulb circuit. Make sure to emphasize that "conducting" electricity is different than producing electricity. (If possible, a sample of mercury in a small, safe, sealed, plastic bottle is a great sample to show. |
Students complete lab worksheets and conclusion questions. |
A game called "Battleship" helps students learn about the types of elements on the periodic table. They learn to identify metals, metalloids, and non-metals. Students will need a periodic table to play this game. http://quia.com/ba/87233.html |
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Complete Lab Report Worksheets, and do the next HW which previews the Periodic Trends of Atomic Radius and ionization energy. |
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Lab Report Worksheets: Students understand the properties of metals vs non-metals, and how these properties influence how they are used in the real world. Also, a "new" element is found in the Universe; students must name the element and describe its properties. |
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Day 4: Periodic Trends: Atomic Radius and IE |
Students can predict or compare an element's atomic radius relative to another element based on their Periodic Table placement. |
Students can explain what is happening to the electrons of an atom that causes the periodic trends. |
Students can define ionization energy. |
Students can relate the size of an atom to its ionization energy. |
Students can predict or compare an element's IE relative to another element based on their periodic table placement. |
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computer, projector, graph paper |
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Do Now: Given atomic radii data, students graph the first group and the second period, then answer questions based on the graphs. |
Go over HW and Do Now. |
Complete PowerPoint lecture, through images and explanations the meaning for each trend is explored. Afterwards, students look at websites that show the atomic radius and IE trends in different formats (scatterplot graphs, bar graphs, color-shading, etc.). |
This site uses Java. Periodic trends are shown using bar graphs and visual color shading. Students can look at atomic radii, IE, EN, density, and boiling point trends. http://chemmac1.usc.edu/java/ptable/ptable.html |
Interactive periodic table to show atomic radii trends. https://college.hmco.com/chemistry/intro/zumdahl/intro_chemistry/5e/students/protected/periodictables/pt/pt/pt_ar5.html |
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Preview the Periodic Trend of Electronegativity |
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Ticket to Leave: Write an anology that relates to one of the trends you learned about today. |
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Day 5: Periodic Trends, Revisited |
Students can define electronegativity and electron affinity. |
Students can predict or compare an element's EN relative to another element based on their periodic table placement. |
Students can relate EN trends to atomic radiI and IE trends. |
Students can explain why noble gases have essentially 0 EN. |
Students can read and interpret different visual formats of scientific information. |
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computers, projector, graph paper, Project Outline |
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Do Now: Students graph the group one and period 2 electonegativity data, and they answer questions based on their graphs. |
Go over HW and Do Now |
PowerPoint Lecture uses graphics and explanations to explore the periodic trends of electronegativity and electron affinity. Students interact with the lecture by completing "pop quiz" questions in small groups. |
Movie from Harvard University covering ionization energy, atomic radii, electro-negativity, and electron affinity (Length: 20 minutes). This uses fun graphics to illustrate concepts like IE. Students enjoy seeing the cute graphics like the different animals using energy to get their food which represents ionization energy. http://mste.uiuc.edu/resources.php?id=202 |
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Periodic Table of Elements Project, These projects are put together in the hallway to create a very large and personal periodic table. Students then do a gallery walk and peer review each other's work. |
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Tara Redican
tararedican1@aol.com
Manhattan Village Academy
43 W. 22 Street
New York, NY 10010
Tara Redican has been an educator for fourteen years. She has been teaching mathematics and science at Manhattan Village Academy for the last eight years. She loves teaching, and she shares her enthusiasm for chemistry with her students. She strives for her students to appreciate the sciences and to make personal connections to the subject matter. Beyond the classroom, she has participated in Earthwatch expeditions and will be teaching in South Africa in 2008.
Important documents for this lesson plan.
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