In this 4-session Flexible Schedule course, students learn about atoms, subatomic particles and the Periodic Table of Elements! We've translated our top-rated Atom Secrets course into an engaging recorded Flex format with lots of hands-on activities that learners can complete at their own pace. As a Flexible Schedule course, all teacher presentations and materials are provided in the Classroom, and there are no scheduled live video sessions. 

Note: We also offer this course in a live-instructed format, available here: https://outschool.com/classes/quantum-physics-for-kids-atom-secrets-and-the-periodic-table-of-elements-course-RwD5iVck#us9fIT1FTd
Feel free to choose the format that works best for your learner and schedule!

This course introduces students to 54 atomic elements, while exploring advanced concepts such as electron orbitals, covalent and ionic molecular bonds, and the structural organization of the Periodic Table. The course offers a fun and engaging introduction to the fields of Chemistry and Quantum Physics. Each week will include video presentations, printable atom cards, an interactive drawing activity and review worksheets. 54 illustrated atom cards representing elements 1-54 will be provided upon enrollment. In addition, each week students can participate in an Atom Scavenger Hunt with the other learners, finding examples of specific atoms in their daily lives and sharing their findings in the Classroom through writing, images and/or video. The teacher will respond to messages and posts within 24 hours, excluding weekends and holidays.

Each class session will focus on specific atoms and rows of the Periodic Table, presented weekly over the course of a month, as follows:
Session 1: Rows 1-2, Hydrogen (1) to Neon (10) 
Session 2: Row 3, Sodium (11) to Argon (18)
Session 3: Row 4, Potassium (19) to Krypton (36)
Session 4: Row 5, Rubidium (37) to Xenon (54), plus overview of structure for the remaining Periodic Table elements

The first class session introduces students to the formation of atoms, the building blocks of all matter in the universe, from their beginnings in the Big Bang to the formation of heavier atoms in stars and supernovas. ALL atoms come from stars! We'll also reveal the hidden structure of the Periodic Table of Elements, which describes each atom's ability to form molecules in an incredibly simple, elegant and visual way - if you know how to decipher it. We'll draw electron orbitals and learn about the importance of the outer "valence" electron shell. We'll use fun "cartoon" atom cards designed by the instructor for each element (provided as a PDF handout). This class covers the atomic elements Hydrogen (1) to Neon (10), the first two rows of the Periodic Table, as well as significant molecules formed from these atoms, such as water and carbon dioxide. 

In Session 2-4, we'll explore covalent and ionic molecular bonding and unique characteristics of atoms, along with important molecules that they form. We'll also introduce the concept of suborbitals (s, p, d, f). Throughout the class, the various atoms and molecules will be linked to practical uses in life and modern technology. 

The course includes pre-recorded video lessons which incorporate an interactive drawing activity, short instructional videos and visual aids, including cartoon atom cards designed by the instructor. Learners will be asked to complete weekly handouts reviewing the material (as optional homework), and to post their comments and questions in the classroom. In addition, each week features a fun Atom Scavenger Hunt, in which students find 4-8 examples of the specific atoms studied each week in their home and environment. Learners share their findings with the teacher and other students by posting writing, images and/or video in the Classroom.