On-Line Resources:
Organization of the Periodic Table
Jodye Selco, jiselco@csupomona.edu
Center for Excellence in Mathematics and Science
Teaching (CEMaST), Cal Poly Pomona
Mary Bruno and Sue Chan, Rialto USD
mbruno@rialto.k12.ca.us; schan@rialto.k12.ca.us
NGSS:
• 5-PS1 Matter and Its Interactions (1);
Practices (using models, math thinking);
Crosscutting (cause and effect)
• MS-PS1 Matter and its Interactions (1, 5);
Practices (use models, construct explanations
and design solutions, obtain, science models
and laws); Crosscutting (patterns, proportion)
• HS-PS1 Use periodic table, periodic trends,
math representations, models of nuclei;
Practices (use models, use mathematical
thinking); Crosscutting (patterns)
Goal:
Devise a way to teach how the
Periodic Table is organized so
all students, regardless of
grade, can understand how to
“read” the Periodic Table and
to connect this information to
the chemical properties of
elements.
Website
• http://www.csupomona.edu/
~jiselco/periodictable/
• http://www.csupomona.edu/
~jiselco/periodictable/
New Virtual Simulation
Summary
• This method is helping learners of all ages
understand how the Periodic Table is organized
1. Valence electrons are responsible for the
chemistry
2. Chemical properties of elements in a column
have similar chemical behavior
3. Atoms in a column have the same number of
valence electrons
4. Atomic size increases down a column
5. Atomic size decreases to the right of a row
6. The Periodic Table is a great graphic organizer
Interested in learning more?
• Full lesson for use with physical
manipulatives for elementary, middle
and high school/college
• Files available to print Periodic Table
skeletons
http://www.csupomona.edu/~cemast/
LessonPlan&Links.shtml
Jodye Selco jiselco@csupomona.edu
Mary Bruno mbruno@rialto.k12.ca.us
Sue Chan schan@rialto.k12.ca.us
Acknowledgements:
• Mary Bruno and Sue Chan
• Rialto Unified School District 5th
grade teachers and students
• CaMSP (California Mathematics and
Science Partnership) grant
• Dr. Ed D’Souza for having the wisdom
to make us a teaching team
Using these atomic models,
you can teach (science):
• Combining ratios in binary compounds
• How to write chemical formulae
• Conservation of matter during a reaction
and balancing equations
• Why elements in a family have similar
chemical behavior
• Predicting combining ratios for main
group atoms
Results (6 years later):
• Students (even elementary students!)
can learn to “read” the periodic table
as evidenced by their ability to
correctly predict combining ratios in
binary compounds
• Student scores on CST (especially
physical science/chemistry) and district
benchmark exams has been increasing
year by year (including special needs
students).
th
5
Grade Science CST Scores
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
100%
80%
Basic
60%
Below Basic
40%
20%
0%
Far Below Basic
0%
20%
Proficient
40%
60%
Advanced
Factor of 4.4 increase in number of students that are
proficient and advanced from 2004 to 2011. Chemistry
professional development provided to teachers in 2005.
8th Grade Physical Science CST Scores
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
80
60
Basic
40
Below Basic
20
0
Far Below Basic
0
20
Proficient
40
Advanced
Factor of ~3 increase in number of students that
are proficient and advanced from 2006 to 2011.
First 5th grade cohort in 8th grade 2007-2008.
60
High School Chemistry CST Scores
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
80
60
Basic
40
Below Basic
20
0
Far Below Basic
0
20
Proficient
40
Advanced
Factor of ~2.7 increase in number of students that
are proficient and advanced from 2006 to 2011.
First 5th grade cohort in HS grade 2010 and 2011.
60
Rules for Making Binary Compounds
• Use only two differently colored (or
two types of) atoms to connect the
unpaired electrons to other atoms use as many as you need borrowing
from other groups as necessary.
• You are all done when all unpaired
electrons have a single partner and
none are left unpaired.
Your Turn to Make Molecules!
• Use only two differently colored (or
two types of) atoms to connect the
unpaired electrons to other atoms use as many as you need borrowing
from other groups as necessary.
• You are all done when all unpaired
electrons have a single partner and
none are left unpaired.
Binary Compounds
Writing Chemical Formulae
• 4 purple, 1 pink  4 P, 1 Pi  P4Pi
• This demystifies why some elements
have a second letter in their symbol
• What a chemical formula means
• Why 2 units of P4Pi is not equal to
P8Pi2 and should be written 2 P4Pi