Lesson Plan
Periodic Table Power-Up
Students will be able to identify the basic organization of the periodic table and locate key information for common elements, such as atomic number and chemical symbol.
Understanding the periodic table is crucial because it's the fundamental map of all known elements, which are the building blocks of everything in the universe. Learning how to read it helps students make sense of the world around them.
Audience
7th Grade Students
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Through interactive slides, a teacher-led script, and a guided worksheet activity.
Materials
Google Slides presentation for Periodic Table Power-Up Slide Deck, Printed copies of Periodic Table Explorer Worksheet (one per student), and Pencils or pens
Prep
Preparation
15 minutes
- Review the Periodic Table Power-Up Lesson Plan and all generated materials (especially the Periodic Table Power-Up Slide Deck and Periodic Table Explorer Worksheet).
- Print enough copies of the Periodic Table Explorer Worksheet for each student.
- Ensure projector and computer are set up for the Periodic Table Power-Up Slide Deck.
- Have a class set of periodic tables (if not using the one on the worksheet) readily available or project a large one for reference.
Step 1
Warm-Up: What's Everything Made Of?
5 minutes
- Display the first slide of the Periodic Table Power-Up Slide Deck.
- Ask students: "What do you think everything around us is made of?" Allow for a few student responses. Transition to introducing elements as the basic building blocks.
- Introduce the term 'element' and explain that there are over 100 different types.
Step 2
Introduction to the Periodic Table
10 minutes
- Transition to the slides introducing the periodic table (slides 2-5 of Periodic Table Power-Up Slide Deck).
- Explain that the periodic table is a 'cheat sheet' or 'map' of all known elements.
- Highlight key features: rows (periods), columns (groups), and how elements are organized by atomic number.
- Introduce the concept of atomic number, chemical symbol, and atomic mass using examples from the slide deck (e.g., Hydrogen, Helium).
Step 3
Periodic Table Explorer Worksheet Activity
10 minutes
- Distribute the Periodic Table Explorer Worksheet to each student.
- Explain the instructions for the worksheet, guiding students to find specific information about elements using the periodic table provided on the worksheet or a classroom periodic table.
- Circulate around the room to assist students and answer questions. Encourage peer collaboration.
- Review answers as a class, discussing any common misconceptions or questions.
Step 4
Cool-Down: One Thing I Learned
5 minutes
- Display the last slide of the Periodic Table Power-Up Slide Deck.
- Ask students to write down or share one new thing they learned about the periodic table today on an exit ticket or in their science notebooks.
- Collect exit tickets or facilitate a quick verbal share-out. Briefly summarize the main takeaways of the lesson.
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Slide Deck
Periodic Table Power-Up!
Your Guide to the Elements
What do you think everything around us is made of?
Welcome students and engage them with a thought-provoking question about what everything is made of. This sets the stage for introducing elements.
What ARE Elements?
- Elements are the basic building blocks of all matter.
- Think of them like LEGOs – you can build anything with them, but you can't break a LEGO into smaller pieces of LEGO.
- There are over 100 different types of elements!
Define elements as the basic building blocks. Emphasize that there are over 100 different types, each unique.
The Periodic Table: An Element Map
- The Periodic Table is a special chart that organizes all the known elements in the universe.
- It's like a map or a giant cheat sheet for scientists (and you!).
- It helps us understand how elements are related and what their properties are.
Introduce the periodic table as an organized chart. Explain its purpose: to make sense of all the different elements.
How is it Organized?
- Elements are arranged by their Atomic Number.
- The Atomic Number tells you how many protons an atom of that element has.
- It's like an element's unique ID number!
- The elements go from left to right, and top to bottom, increasing in atomic number.
Explain the key organizing principle: atomic number. Show how it increases across periods and down groups.
What Can We Learn from One Square?
- Each square on the Periodic Table gives us key information about an element:
- Chemical Symbol (1 or 2 letters, like 'H' for Hydrogen)
- Element Name (like Hydrogen)
- Atomic Number (the element's 'ID' number)
- Atomic Mass (how heavy an average atom of that element is)
Let's look at an example...
Focus on the essential information students should be able to find for each element: symbol, name, and atomic number. Use a simple example.
Example: Carbon (C)
6
C
Carbon
12.011
- 6 is the Atomic Number
- C is the Chemical Symbol
- Carbon is the Element Name
- 12.011 is the Atomic Mass
Use a clear example like Hydrogen or Carbon to visually demonstrate where the atomic number, symbol, and name are located on a typical element square. Carbon is a good choice as it's relatable.
Periodic Table Power-Up: Complete!
You've taken your first step into understanding the elements!
What is one new thing you learned about the Periodic Table today?
Conclude the lesson and prepare for the cool-down activity mentioned in the lesson plan.
Worksheet
Periodic Table Explorer Worksheet
Instructions: Use the simplified periodic table below (or a classroom periodic table) to answer the questions about the elements.
Simplified Periodic Table Reference
| H (1) | He (2) | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Li (3) | Be(4) | B (5) | C (6) | N (7) | O (8) | F (9) | Ne (10) | ||||||||||
| Na(11) | Mg(12) | Al(13) | Si(14) | P (15) | S (16) | Cl(17) | Ar (18) |
Note: Numbers in parentheses are Atomic Numbers.
- What is the chemical symbol for the element Carbon?
- What is the atomic number for the element Oxygen?
- What is the name of the element with the chemical symbol "Na"?
- What is the chemical symbol for the element Helium?
- What is the atomic number for the element Lithium?
- What is the name of the element with the chemical symbol "N"?
- Find the element with atomic number 17. What is its chemical symbol and name?
- In your own words, briefly explain why the periodic table is useful.
Warm Up
Periodic Table Power-Up: Warm-Up!
Think about it: Everything you see, touch, and even breathe is made of something. What do you think are the most basic building blocks of all the different materials around us?
Cool Down
Periodic Table Power-Up: Cool-Down!
Reflect: What is one new thing you learned about the periodic table today? Or, what is one question you still have about it?
Answer Key
Periodic Table Explorer Worksheet Answer Key
Instructions: Use this key to check your answers for the Periodic Table Explorer Worksheet.
-
What is the chemical symbol for the element Carbon?
- Answer: C
- Thought Process: Locate Carbon on the periodic table. The large letter(s) in the middle of its square represent its chemical symbol.
-
What is the atomic number for the element Oxygen?
- Answer: 8
- Thought Process: Locate Oxygen on the periodic table. The atomic number is usually the whole number at the top of the element square.
-
What is the name of the element with the chemical symbol "Na"?
- Answer: Sodium
- Thought Process: Find the square with the chemical symbol "Na". Below the symbol, you will find the element's name.
-
What is the chemical symbol for the element Helium?
- Answer: He
- Thought Process: Locate Helium on the periodic table. The large letter(s) in the middle of its square represent its chemical symbol.
-
What is the atomic number for the element Lithium?
- Answer: 3
- Thought Process: Locate Lithium on the periodic table. The atomic number is usually the whole number at the top of the element square.
-
What is the name of the element with the chemical symbol "N"?
- Answer: Nitrogen
- Thought Process: Find the square with the chemical symbol "N". Below the symbol, you will find the element's name.
-
Find the element with atomic number 17. What is its chemical symbol and name?
- Answer: Cl, Chlorine
- Thought Process: Scan the periodic table for the atomic number 17. Once found, identify the chemical symbol and the name of that element.
-
In your own words, briefly explain why the periodic table is useful.
- Answer: (Answers may vary, but should include similar ideas) The periodic table is useful because it organizes all the different elements in the universe, making it easy to find information about them. It helps scientists understand how elements are related and predict their properties.
- Thought Process: Recall the main points discussed in the lesson about the purpose and organization of the periodic table. Summarize its benefits for understanding elements.