Chemistry Lesson Plan
Group Project
by Leah McDermott
Lesson Title: Welcome to the Periodic Table! Subject Area: Chemistry Grade Level: 7th Grade Time Required: two 50-minute class periods
Standards:
~NETS.S Standards: -1.a: Students demonstrate creative thinking, construct knowledge, and develop innovative products and processes using technology. Students apply existing knowledge to generate new ideas, products. or processes
- 4.c: Students use critical thinking skills to plan and conduct research, manage projects, solve problems, and make informed decisions using appropriate digital tools and resources.
~PA Standards: - 3.2.C.A1: Explain the relationship of an element's position on the periodic table to its atomic number, ionization energy, electro-negativity, atomic size, and classification of elements. - 3.2.C.A2: Compare the electron configurations for the first twenty elements of the periodic table. Relate the position of an element on the periodic table to its electron configuration and compare its reactivity to the reactivity of other elements in the table.
Learning Objectives:
1. Students will be able to identify the first twenty elements of the periodic table, using their abbreviations.
2. Students will be able to balance incomplete chemical equations by changing element coefficients.
3. Students will research one specific element on the periodic table and develop a comic book character that embodies that element.
Materials:
- computer access for all students (this class may need to be completed in a computer lab)
- textbook including the periodic table, or printouts of the periodic table for each student
- district-approved access to the following websites:
- SchoolTube Video
- Web Elements
- Chemistry Comics
- ToonDoo
- Balancing Act Game
Instruction Procedures:
DAY 1 1. Have students open textbooks to the periodic table, or pass out copies of the periodic table if necessary. Tell students that today they will be learning about the "periodic table." Ask students questions to elicit information that they may already know about elements on the periodic table. For example, "Do any of you know what the abbreviation for hydrogen is on the periodic table?" Since most students know that the symbol for water is "H20," many should know that hydrogen is abbreviated "H." Explain that the periodic table is the most important chemistry reference that there is. While students are looking at the table, explain that the elements are all listed in a specific, informative way. Have students share with a partner some patterns that they notice on the periodic table. Ask several students to share what they have found.
3. Have students access Web Elements on their own computers. This is an interactive periodic table which gives students the ability to learn a wealth of information about each element on the periodic table in a short amount of time. Tell students that, for today's purposes, they are only to spend time learning about the first twenty elements on the periodic table. Give students time to research these first twenty elements. When time is up, ask students to "think/pair/share" with a partner some things that they have learned about these elements.
DAY 2
1. Review some information about the first twenty elements of the periodic table with students.
2. Randomly assign one of the first twenty elements on the periodic table to each student (some may need to be used more than once depending on the class size). Have students visit Chemistry Comics on their computers. This is a website designed to bring the periodic elements to life through superheroes. Students will find their assigned element on the website and read some of the comic strips dedicated to that "SuperElement." Allow students some time to read several of these comics, as they are extremely informative and an excellent way for students to learn about the elements on the periodic table.
3. Once students have spent some time reading their element comics, ask students to access (in a new window) ToonDoo. Here, students will be assigned to create a new comic strip for their assigned element superhero. They have the option of using the same superhero that they found on "Chemistry Comics," and simply creating a new adventure for them; or they may create an entirely new superhero for their element.
4. When finished, allow several students to share their comics with the class.
5. To assess understanding of the periodic elements and their uses, have students access Balancing Act Game. This is an online gaming tool that can be used by the teacher to assess students understanding of balancing chemical coefficients. While students are playing this game, the instructor should be walking around the room assessing student progress.
Chemistry Lesson Plan
Group Project
by Leah McDermott
Lesson Title: Welcome to the Periodic Table!
Subject Area: Chemistry
Grade Level: 7th Grade
Time Required: two 50-minute class periods
Standards:
~NETS.S Standards:
-1.a: Students demonstrate creative thinking, construct knowledge, and develop innovative products and processes using technology. Students apply existing knowledge to generate new ideas, products. or processes
- 4.c: Students use critical thinking skills to plan and conduct research, manage projects, solve problems, and make informed decisions using appropriate digital tools and resources.
~PA Standards:
- 3.2.C.A1: Explain the relationship of an element's position on the periodic table to its atomic number, ionization energy, electro-negativity, atomic size, and classification of elements.
- 3.2.C.A2: Compare the electron configurations for the first twenty elements of the periodic table. Relate the position of an element on the periodic table to its electron configuration and compare its reactivity to the reactivity of other elements in the table.
Learning Objectives:
1. Students will be able to identify the first twenty elements of the periodic table, using their abbreviations.
2. Students will be able to balance incomplete chemical equations by changing element coefficients.
3. Students will research one specific element on the periodic table and develop a comic book character that embodies that element.
Materials:
- computer access for all students (this class may need to be completed in a computer lab)
- textbook including the periodic table, or printouts of the periodic table for each student
- district-approved access to the following websites:
- SchoolTube Video
- Web Elements
- Chemistry Comics
- ToonDoo
- Balancing Act Game
Instruction Procedures:
DAY 1
1. Have students open textbooks to the periodic table, or pass out copies of the periodic table if necessary. Tell students that today they will be learning about the "periodic table." Ask students questions to elicit information that they may already know about elements on the periodic table. For example, "Do any of you know what the abbreviation for hydrogen is on the periodic table?" Since most students know that the symbol for water is "H20," many should know that hydrogen is abbreviated "H." Explain that the periodic table is the most important chemistry reference that there is. While students are looking at the table, explain that the elements are all listed in a specific, informative way. Have students share with a partner some patterns that they notice on the periodic table. Ask several students to share what they have found.
2. To introduce the periodic table, show Periodic Table Video from SchoolTube.
3. Have students access Web Elements on their own computers. This is an interactive periodic table which gives students the ability to learn a wealth of information about each element on the periodic table in a short amount of time. Tell students that, for today's purposes, they are only to spend time learning about the first twenty elements on the periodic table. Give students time to research these first twenty elements. When time is up, ask students to "think/pair/share" with a partner some things that they have learned about these elements.
DAY 2
1. Review some information about the first twenty elements of the periodic table with students.
2. Randomly assign one of the first twenty elements on the periodic table to each student (some may need to be used more than once depending on the class size). Have students visit Chemistry Comics on their computers. This is a website designed to bring the periodic elements to life through superheroes. Students will find their assigned element on the website and read some of the comic strips dedicated to that "SuperElement." Allow students some time to read several of these comics, as they are extremely informative and an excellent way for students to learn about the elements on the periodic table.
3. Once students have spent some time reading their element comics, ask students to access (in a new window) ToonDoo. Here, students will be assigned to create a new comic strip for their assigned element superhero. They have the option of using the same superhero that they found on "Chemistry Comics," and simply creating a new adventure for them; or they may create an entirely new superhero for their element.
4. When finished, allow several students to share their comics with the class.
5. To assess understanding of the periodic elements and their uses, have students access Balancing Act Game. This is an online gaming tool that can be used by the teacher to assess students understanding of balancing chemical coefficients. While students are playing this game, the instructor should be walking around the room assessing student progress.