Lesson Plan: Introduction to the Periodic Table and Polarity
EDUC 540: Field Experience
Drexel University School of Education
David Ackley
OVERVIEW
A. Grade and Subject: General Chemistry - 10th grade
B. Overarching Understanding Goals or Through-lines:
How can chemistry help me better understand my environment?
How does learning about a small “unseen” world change the way I interact with a
visible one?
C. Pennsylvania Academic Standards addressed
3.4.10 A. Explain concepts about the structure and properties of matter
- Explain the repeating pattern of chemical properties by using the repeating
patterns of atomic structure within the periodic table
- Explain the formation of compounds and their resulting properties using bond
theories (ionic and covalent)
D. Generative Topic: History of and alternate periodic table designs
E. Performances of Understanding:
1. Guided inquiry Performance(s)
a. Elemental Reading Assignments (see attached)
b. Modeling Dot Diagrams (see attached)
2. Culminating Performance(s)
a. Unit Quiz
LESSON PLAN
A. Goals: Students will recognize the basic sections of the periodic table and begin
to connect repeating chemical properties with chemical bonding
B. Objectives
1. Students will be able to identify metals, semi-metals and non-metals on
the Periodic table
2. Students will recognize each element as unique
3. Students be able to describe a molecule as polar or non-polar
C. Prerequisites
1. Knowledge of basic periodic table vocabulary
2. Use electronegativity to determine bond type
D. Materials
1. Selected articles on various elements and guided reading worksheet
2. File cards with selected molecules, modeling kits of assorted flavors
3. Prepared notes on periodic table sections and polarity of molecules
4. Multiple periodic table posters demonstrating alternative designs
E. Lesson Description: This lesson will finish out basic vocabulary for the periodic
table and begin to connect each element's uniqueness to its bonding behavior
F. Lesson Procedure
1. Introduction – Warm-up review on periodic table vocabulary
2. Note Taking
i. Finish out basic vocabulary for periodic table sections and show
examples of bonding families
3. Reading Assignment – Selected Elemental Essays from C&EN magazine
i. Pairs read articles on an element answering questions
4. Note Taking
i. Introduce polarity across a molecule as an extension of
electronegativity in bond types
5. Class-work
i. Electrons in Bonding Assignment (see attached)
6. Closure/Conclusion
i. Emphasize elemental position on the periodic table influences
behavior
ii. Introduce the unique behavior of polar molecules
7. Follow-up Lessons/Activities
i. Students select an element to research in depth on their own
ii. Continue to work on multiple models for a given molecule,
identifying bond type and overall polarity
G. Assessment/Evaluation:
1. Informal
i. Monitored discussion during reading assignment
ii. Student predictions about molecule polarity embedded in "lecture"
2. Formal
i. Responses to reading assignment and sharing with the class
ii. Electrons in Bonding assignment
iii. Eventual Unit Quiz