Periodic Table Lesson Plans

Over a series of five class sessions, pupils will complete hands-on activities to measure objects and substances. There is also an emphasis on the organization of the periodic table, atom structures, electrical charges, and physical and chemical properties of various elements. What a fantastic lesson plan for your fifth grade science period!

Students construct a periodic table using felt strips as elements by arranging elements based on their characteristics. For this periodic table lesson plan, students place colored strips of paper that represent elements in the proper location on a piece of felt that represents the periodic table. Clues are given on the periodic table to guide students. Students discuss family, groups, periods and series as they relate to the periodic table.

Young scholars create trading cards for elements in the Periodic Table. In this chemistry lesson, students are introduced to the Periodic Table of Elements and the concept of elements in the world around us. Student groups use the Visual Thesaurus to investigate the properties of various elements. Young scholars design trading cards with the name of the element, its properties, and an illustration on each card.

Learners identify the scientist who first wrote the Periodic Table, identify the scientist who amended the Table, state (or write) specific data relating to the history of the Periodic Table, identify at least five elements, and two components.

Eighth graders practice categorizing a group of shells and unknown elements using student derived characteristics. They explore the structure and use of the periodic table.

Students differentiate between various fruits and relate their discovery to groups of elements. They evaluate the physical and chemical properties of sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium. They demonstrate how the periodic table is used today.

Students research elements and elemental names from the periodic table. In this periodic table lesson, students select from a grab bag of elements and research their elements on the internet. Students then join in small group to organize the elements they have into a table of their own.

Fifth graders explore how elements of the periodic table are arranged by reactivity. In this periodic table lesson, 5th graders become part of a periodic table as they are arranged by reactivity.

Students investigate properties of transition metals. In this chemical reaction lesson, students study the properties of transition metals. They will predict and observe a chemical reaction using a transition metal and explain how the chemical reaction observed is a property of the transition metal.

Students discuss transition metals, where they are located on the periodic table, some of the element in the group, and some characteristics of the group. They work in groups to conduct an experiment in which they mix transition metals and water together to create a homemade hand warmer. Groups experience an exothermic reaction and discuss the results of their experiment.