Understanding the Periodic Table of Elements

1. Bellringer - The teacher will introduce the lesson by having the students watch “Atoms and Elements” video to review atoms and introduce elements - https://scetv.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/697f3475-3569-4a4e-a99d-90e607fd4852/atoms-and-elements-unc-tv-science/. The students will complete the “Atoms and Elements Video Learning Activity” (see resources tab) while watching the video (this can be shared digitally, printed, or in the students’ journals, depending on available technology). The teacher should review and provide the activity to the students prior to watching the video so the students know what to expect. The students will submit the activity to the teacher upon completion. The teacher will use “Atoms and Elements Video Learning Activity Answer Key” (see resources tab) to check for students’ understanding and provide feedback.
    
2. The teacher should review the performance indicator and essential question with the students and lead discussion to check for students’ prior knowledge about elements and The Periodic Table of Elements. 
    
3. The teacher will instruct the students that the purpose of The Periodic Table of Elements  is to organize all of the elements. Each square on the table represents an element and contains the element name, symbol, atomic number, and atomic mass. (Source: SUPPORT GUIDE 3.0 FOR SEVENTH GRADE SOUTH CAROLINA ACADEMIC STANDARDS AND PERFORMANCE INDICATORS FOR SCIENCE, pages 14 and 15  -https://ed.sc.gov/instruction/standards-learning/science/support-documents-and-resources/grade-seven-science-support-document/)  
    
4. The teacher and students will utilize the “Periodic Table of Elements” Interactive - https://scetv.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/phy03.sci.phys.matter.ptable/periodic-table-of-the-elements/ together. The teacher will roll over one of the elements to reveal the name of the element. The teacher will click on that element on the table to see the attributes of the element (the symbol, atomic number, atomic mass, number of protons, and number of neutrons). The students (individually or cooperatively) will choose three different elements and complete the “Periodic Table of Elements Interactive Activity” (located in the resources tab). This can be done digitally, printed, or in their journal depending on the availability of technology. The teacher will check the students’ work for understanding using the “Periodic Table of Elements Interactive Activity Answer Key” (located in the resources tab). 
    
5. The teacher will share (either digitally or printed)  this handout from the Support Materials of the Periodic Table of Elements from PBS Learning Media (https://d43fweuh3sg51.cloudfront.net/media/assets/wgbh/phy03/phy03_doc_ptablescr/phy03_doc_ptablescr.pdf) with the class and the students will recognize how the families and periods are organized on the Periodic Table of Elements (Periods - horizontal rows; Families - vertical columns). 
    
6. Culminating Activity - The students will create a presentation on the characteristics of one group of elements (metalloids, metals, or nonmetals) from The Periodic Table of Elements. The presentation must include the location and pattern of the group on the Periodic Table of Elements, specific details (symbol, atomic number, atomic mass, family number, and period number) about two elements of the group, and characteristics of the group. This can be completed using any presentation software (Google Slides or PowerPoint) or orally, depending on the teacher’s availability of technology. 
    
7. The teacher will review the essential question with the class to check for mastery. 

If you are using a cloud file storage system (Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive, or iCloud), I would recommend having the students create a digital folder for this lesson to save their notes and student work. It will help with organization.

The Periodic Table of Elements Presentation - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1FW3AFRt2QO3SwU5YY00Hrrjyn5JAWIrKGh0nOOu2DK8/edit?usp=sharing

The Periodic Table of Elements Presentation Grading Scale - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1AT_TVzSpiGF78NUDO0bsJCG3BHcg0SJD_xi2ee_WH4g/edit?usp=sharing