Periodic Table Unit Plan
INT 925: Elementary Curriculum on the Web
Project 2: Create and Share a Curriculum Unit
Michelle Corder
4th/5th Grade – Fall River Elementary, Fall River Mills, CA
California State Science Content Standard
1. Elements and their combinations account for all the varied types of matter in
the world.
d. Students know that each element is made of one kind of atom
and that the elements are organized in the periodic table by their
chemical properties.
Key Unit Questions
A. How are elements similar and different from one another?
B. What are the chemical properties of each element studied?
C. How are the elements organized in the periodic table?
Background Knowledge
Students should already be familiar with:
1. Matter-
Resources:
http://www.chem4kids.com/files/matter_intro.html
http://scorescience.humboldt.k12.ca.us/fast/teachers/Matter/matter.htm
http://www.thetech.org/exhibits/online/topics/50a.html
2. Atoms-
Resources:
The Atoms Family:
http://www.sciencespot.net/Media/atomsfam.pdf
-Overhead
http://www.sciencespot.net/Media/atomsfam2.pdf
-Atomic Math
http://www.sciencespot.net/Media/atomicmath.pdf
Adams Family Song:
http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/Rapids/1111/adamsfamsong.htm
Edible Atoms:
http://www.lessonplanspage.com/ScienceEdibleAtomLabForPeriodicTableAtomsGoodIdea46.htm
General Knowledge: http://www.chem4kids.com/files/atom_structure.html
http://education.jlab.org/atomtour/index.html
http://www.miamisci.org/af/sln/phantom/spectroscope.html
Atom Builder:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aso/tryit/atom/#
Week One
Days One and Two – Computer Lab
Introduction
Introduce Key Vocabulary – Vocabulary Sheet:
http://ctap295.borderlink.org/lshumard/vocabularyelement.xls
Whole Class with A.V., then Individual Practice – Provide students with a
visual, interactive introduction to the organization and structure of the
periodic table with an animated Flash Module. The Module includes the
location of the elements, periods, groups (American and IUPAC), metals
and non-metals, and states of matter.
http://zircon.mcli.dist.maricopa.edu/mlx/warehouse/0060100700/00696/Chemistry.swf
Individual or Pairs: - Reinforce new information with concise information
from “How to Read the Periodic Table”.
http://web.buddyproject.org/web017/web017/pertab.html
Whole Class with A.V. – Watch entertaining, but fast-paced BrainPop
Movie on the periodic table.
http://www.brainpop.com/science/matter/periodictable/index.weml
Day Three– Classroom
Button Activity - Discovering Patterns
In groups of two or four - Students organize mixed objects (buttons) of
similar type by property. The buttons can be sorted by color, size,
material, etc. Students discuss different ways that buttons can be
organized and assemble buttons into various periodic orders according to
their properties.
Button Sorting Worksheet
http://ctap295.borderlink.org/lshumard/buttons.doc
Days Four and Five – Computer Lab
Review Key Vocabulary
Individually – Explore Online Periodic Table Memorization Games and
Quizzes:
Element Flashcards:
http://education.jlab.org/elementflashcards/index.html
Element Math:
http://education.jlab.org/elementmath/index.html
Element Hangman:
http://education.jlab.org/elementhangman/index.html
Element Crossword:
http://education.jlab.org/elementcrossword/index.html
Element Concentration:
http://education.jlab.org/elementconcentration/index.html
Element Matching:
http://education.jlab.org/elementmatching/index.html
On-Line Self-Quizzes
The Periodic Table Challenge:
http://www.ilpi.com/genchem/periodicquiz.htm
l
Proton Don Periodic Table Quiz (may select difficulty):
http://www.funbrain.com/periodic/index.html
Optional In-Class Games
In-Class Periodic Table Memorization Game
Element Trading Cards:
http://www.sciencespot.net/Media/elemtradcds.pdf
Element Word Search:
http://education.jlab.org/beamsactivity/6thgrade/elementwordsearch/inde
x.html
Element Bingo:
http://education.jlab.org/beamsactivity/6thgrade/elementbingo/index.html
Week Two
Days One through Five
Adopt-An-Element Project
Individually – Using a variety of reference sources, including the Internet,
students research an element, complete a detailed information sheet, and
create an advertisement poster for their element.
http://www.sciencespot.net/Media/adtelempjt.pdf
Culminating Activity - Periodic Wall
Whole Group – The advertisement posters from the Adopt-An-Element
project are assembled into a huge periodic table on outside wall of the
classroom.
Assessment
Unit Quiz
Includes Key Vocabulary and Periodic Table Worksheet
http://ctap295.borderlink.org/lshumard/elementspreadr.xls
Additional Unit Resources
Periodic Tables
Comic Book http://www.uky.edu/Projects/Chemcomics/
Web Elements
http://www.webelements.com/webelements/scholar/
Chemicool
http://www-tech.mit.edu/Chemicool/
Rona’s Ultimate Teaching
Tools - Periodic Table
http://www.myteachertools.com/old/periodictable.htm
Chemical Society http://www.chemsoc.org/viselements/pages/pertable_j.htm
Los Alamos
http://pearl1.lanl.gov/periodic/default.htm
Enrichment/Fun Stuff
Periodic Table Puns: http://www.sciencespot.net/Media/elempuns.pdf
-More Puns
http://www.sciencespot.net/Media/elempuns2.pdf
-Answers
http://www.sciencespot.net/Media/elempnsansw.pdf
Memorization Tips:
http://www.sciencespot.net/Media/elementtips.pdf
The Elements Song:
http://school.discovery.com/lessonplans/activities/sciencehits/