8th Chapter 4 - Elements and
the Periodic Table
Section 1 - Intro. to Atoms
Students will begin this section learning about the history time line of the theory of atoms and how the theory developed and changed over many years. Each group of 4-5 students will be responsible for presenting to the class their time period or theory. We will start with Dalton's Atomic Theory, Thomson and smaller parts of the atom, Rutherford and the nucleus, Bohr's Model, the cloud of electrons, and finally to the Modern Atomic Model. Next we will look at the subatomic particles in an atom: the proton, neutron, and electron the charges attached to the particle and the mass of each particle.
Section 2 - Organizing the Elements
To begin we will look at how items around us are organized, such as a calendar. Days and weeks form an organized repeating pattern. Students will then test themselves in a card organization activity to see when they can find a color and numbered card faster (organized or unorganized). Next we will learn about Dmitri Mendeleev, and how he discovered the pattern that helped lead to the organization of the periodic table, and how he was also able to predict the properties of undiscovered elements at that time. We will then look at how the modern periodic table is organized into periods and groups and how this organization also can help us identify properties of elements. Students will learn how to read an element's square and what all the numbers and symbols inside mean.
Periodic Eggs
Students will be given a set of "glass" eggs. On the eggs there are various patterns of jewels and bands. Students will have to color and organize their eggs into groups and periods, and try to identify the properties and characteristics of some missing mystery eggs.
Section 3 - Metals
Students will be broken up into groups of 4-5 to present on the six groups of metals located on the periodic table. We will start on the left hand side and work our way to the right. Students will be learning about the physical and chemical properties of metals such as malleability, ductility, conductivity, reactivity, and corrosion. The metal groups student will be presenting are the: Alkali, Alkaline Earth, Transition, Metals in mixed groups, Lanthanides, and Actinides. I will also discuss with students what a synthetic element is and what a particle accelerator is and that it is used by scientists to create synthetic elements.
Section 4 - Nonmetals/Metalloids
Students will learn about the physical and chemical properties of nonmetals and metalloids, like that they are poor conductors of heat and electricity and are also dull and brittle. Students will then be broken up into groups one last time to present the specific physical and chemical properties of these families, and where they are located on the periodic table. The groups include the: Carbon Family, Nitrogen Family, Oxygen Family, Halogen Family, Noble Gases, and Metalloids.
Periodic Basics Lab
Students will be given 18 different element cards. They will have find the atomic mass, atomic number, number of protons, neutrons, and electrons, correctly identify where and what energy level electrons will be located on for that element, and then organize their element cards into a mini-periodic table. Once students have organized their cards they will look for similarities and patterns between the groups and periods of the periodic table.
Section 5 - Radioactive Elements
In this section students will learn how radioactivity was discovered. They will learn about Henri Becquerel and the huge contribution of Marie Curie and her husband Pierre with the isolation of the two elements polonium and radium. Students will learn about the three types of radioactive decay: Alpha, Beta, and Gamma Radiation. They will also learn about the effects of nuclear radiation. Lastly they will learn how science and industry can use radioactive isotopes as tracers to detect anything from weakened pipes to treating different types of cancer.
Alien Periodic Table Lab
In this lab students will imagine that inhabitants of another planet sent a message to earth that contains information about 30 elements. However, the message contains different names and symbols for these elements than those used on Earth. Students will be given information on the location of the element, the periodic table properties of the elements, and various other clues as to what element they are identifying.
