Exploring the Periodic Table of Elements

The Periodic Table combines various elements of chemistry.  Students will not only learn about the table itself, but will get a quality review of the atom--structure, function, size, etc. I will use diagrams and a few different Periodic Tables throughout this course.

The parts, see below, may overlap from one day/week to the next.

Part 1: Introduction
--The history of its development
--What general things do we find on the table?--Brainstorming session with students participating
--Settling on the main characteristics: they see letters, numbers, colors, boxes, rows, and columns
--I will go over how to identify where each element is on the table and students will practice this skill
--Key takeaways: columns/groups/families vs rows/periods

Part 2: Elements' Names and Symbols
--I will discuss how some of the elements are named (and as a result given symbols)
--Practice locating elements using the periods/groups and symbols in a creative way
--Review atomic structure and atomic numbers

Part 3: Atomic Mass and Mass Number
--We will discuss what these numbers represents and why the numbers increase in the pattern they do
--I will talk about the mass of the protons, neutrons, and electrons 
--I will also discuss the concept of isotopes (briefly), so that students can understand why atomic mass is a decimal
--We will complete a shared Google Doc during this part of the session
**hand-held calculator may be used
--We will begin discussing Families/Groups of elements

Part 4: Families/Groups and the Bohr Model
--There are several key groups on the Periodic Table that have certain important characteristics, we will discuss the Alkali and Alkaline Earth metals, as well as the Halogens and Noble Gases (to name a few)
--I will also present information on other "groupings" of elements
--We will begin to draw the Bohr model of the atom

Part 5: Putting it Together
--We will play a game related to the Periodic Table (Jeopardy or Kahoot)
--During this session, I will explain how the elements (atoms really) react based on the properties that we discussed by using 1-2 Bohr model diagrams of atoms that form compounds (maybe Lewis-dot structures as well)

**Class minimum of 5 students for this course to be taught**