I find it difficult to teach the periodic table to my physical science students. That’s probably because I’m used to teaching SO MUCH more about its intricacies. In teaching chemistry, the kids get a heck of a lot of background knowledge in the periodic table. Without teaching really in depth electron configuration, it’s hard to describe why the table has those two “towers” and the lower section that’s separate from the rest.
There are a few of my chemistry periodic table activities that have adapted really well to the physical science students and in this post I’m going to tell you about them.
Periodic Table Color Coding
Right after teaching the groups of the periodic table, I have my students color code the table. I’ve included this activity in my full year chemistry lab manual. The students color the table by atomic number. Even if they quite don’t understand the difference between alkali metals and alkaline earth metals, it helps them to visually see a difference.
I do the same color coding on my Printable Periodic Table that I hang in my classroom. The table can be printed on corresponding colored paper, but I prefer to tie dye the paper. I do this by laying out shaving cream on the lab bench, and I swirl in some food coloring. Then the paper is laid face down in the color. It is wiped clean with a squeegee and set out to dry. Viola! Tie dyed paper. I love having the kids help with this as well. It makes them excited to be able to decorate our classroom.
To me, having the same periodic table as them is important. We can talk about groups on the same terms. “Remember what’s special about the orange group?” And we can all be reminded that they are the halogens, and they are all diatomic. When we’re all on the same page, it makes communication much easier.
Periodic Table Who Am I?
It’s really hard to get the physical science kids to appreciate the periodic table the way my chemistry students do. They have the most basic understanding of atomic structure. To get them on board with identifying all of the groups and regions of the periodic table, as well as the periodic trends, I use a pixel art activity.
In the pixel art, the kids work on a Google Sheet that is self grading. It gives prompts like “I am the diatomic element with 17 protons.” This helps to get them familiar with the periodic table and its elements. This also just helps them to get more comfortable with the element’s they’ll be studying. They all somehow are very concerned about the f-block metals which we basically never talk about. This activity helps them to realize they don’t need to know the whole table.
The pixel art is such a crowd pleaser because it tricks them into learning. The kids are so engrossed in who can be the first to uncover the secret image. You see, the pixel art is a Google Sheet that is self grading. When the kids get an answer right, it gives them a check mark. When they are wrong, it marks an X. As they get questions right, an image will uncover in the middle of the sheet. In my pixel art activities, this means uncovering an animal. They love to race to the finish and shout out what the animal is as soon as they figure it out.
Periodic Table Guessing Game
Lastly, I really enjoy the periodic table guessing game that I’ve included in my full year chemistry lab manual. In that, students are given a downsized list of elements to choose from. They keep this element a secret from their partner, who also has a mystery element. They can ask each other yes or no questions to determine the element their classmate is hiding.
I’ve included some sample questions they can ask to get more familiar with the types of questions that would be helpful. Such as “Are you shiny?” “Do you conduct electricity?” Students also need to fill out a sheet on their element answering these types of questions to turn in.
While this is included in my full year chemistry lab manual, I want to give you a taste of what the manual is like. Click here to sign up for an email with this lab activity attached. It’s a great way to end a unit of study. You can also get creative and use it as a group quiz! (I don’t know about you, but my students love those.)
