Teaching the periodic table is a daunting task and teachers are constantly trying to innovate their lessons to make them more fun and memorable.
Here are 23 of the best periodic table activities to get students interested and to help them study this all-important component of science.
1. Get to Know the Chart
The periodic table can be a daunting undertaking, especially when it comes to lesser-known and rare elements. Using an illustrated periodic table will give the kids an idea of what the everyday uses for the elements are.
Using a periodic table app will quickly have the kids associating elements with the pictures and uses on the table.
Learn more: www.elements.wlonk.com
2. Get Coloring
Teresa Bondora has created free coloring pages in a downloadable format that is a great periodic table activity for young learners.
They showcase the element’s name, atomic number, symbol, and some fun pictures of the general uses of the element. Kids learn the elements by taking their time to color in the pages and reflecting on them later on.
Learn more: www.teresabondora.tumblr.com
3. Build a Table of Elements
One of the key characteristics of the periodic table is how all the elements are grouped together. Using egg cartons to lay out the table is a great way to see how it is all divided up.
Kids get to paint the cartons and create various element groups in a hands-on activity.
Learn more: http://www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com/
4. Sing a Song
Kids these days are obsessed with YouTube, so why not add a fun and educational periodic table video into the mix! The song is super catchy and the visuals are ultra-creative and memorable.
Learn more: www.youtube.com
5. Build the Atomic Structure
The Bohr atom models might seem complicated, but building little atom models is a great way to understand the structure of atoms. Use pipe cleaners and pompoms to make the models and download these simple atomic model cards to go along with them.
Adding a 3-D element is a great way to get the students more involved.
Learn more: www.teachbesideme.com
6. Create Element Cards
Each student can create their own notecard deck from these simple printable cards. Color code the paper they are stuck on for easy grouping or use the card as flashcards or for a memory game.
Learn more: www.homeschoolcreations.net
7. Point and Click
Play this interactive game to let students practice finding elements on the table and identifying element names. Identifying the position of the elements at the drop of a hat can be tricky, but practicing using this timed game can help them perfect their skills.
This is a great individual activity that students can do at home as chemistry homework.
Learn more: www.mrnussbaum.com
8. Larger than life table
Create a giant periodic table from pizza boxes to put on display. Students can bring in everyday items containing or representing some chemical elements to add to the display for an even more involved experience.
Learn more: www.missmiklius.wordpress.com
9. Show and tell
Kids can go on a scavenger hunt at home to find samples of elements. Identifying the elements for everyday use can make them much easier to understand and memorize. This is a great way to get to know some of the physical properties of the elements.
Learn more: www.pinayhomeschooler.com
10. Battleships
This reinterpretation of a classic kid’s game is perfect for young and old. Kids don’t need to know the elements off by heart to play the game but they will inevitably practice the names and positions of the elements on the table.
It is also a good way to get to know the more unknown elements are they are encouraged to use the whole table of elements.
Learn more: www.teachbesideme.com
11. Bingo!
Who doesn’t love a good old-fashioned game of bingo? Download a premade set of cards or create your own sets with various online bingo tools.
Kids will learn the various abbreviations in no time, helping them with a basic understanding of the table of elements.
Learn more: www.steampoweredfamily.com
12. Element Heroes
This activity is perfect if you want to tap into the students’ creative sides. Let them design a superhero character or villains based on the various characteristics and physical properties of elements.
Oxygen is the hero we all love, and Uranium is the villain we fear. Students will get to know more about the common properties of the elements while tapping into their creative sides.
Learn more: www.teacherspayteachers.com
13. Puzzle time
Puzzles are great to develop problem-solving skills, but add the extra challenge of organizing the periodic table and you have a great activity on your hands.
These interlocking periodic table puzzle sets will keep kids occupied for quite some time while they get to study the various placements of elements on the table and the element symbols in the different families of elements.
Learn more: www.amazon.com
14. Play mobile games
The Atomidoodle game is one of the best educational internet activities that let students solve maze puzzles. Fusion and fission come into play and there are hundreds of fascinating facts to be learned along the way.
This is a great online resource that will quickly become their favorite activity. This is great for older students who want to learn more about atomic properties.
Learn more: http://www.atomidoodle.com/
15. Pixel art
The squares of a periodic table lend themselves to all kinds of fun interpretations. This game combines a crossword puzzle and pixel art and lets students create a cool picture by answering cryptic questions.
Students can also create their own chemistry art once they are more familiar with the element clues.
Learn more: www.teachingabovethetest.com
16. Atomic People
Dmitri Mendeleev organized the periodic table according to atomic mass, but this concept might seem very foreign to young students. Use cute cartoon atomic people to arrange the table according to their weight.
You can use the blank templates on the student activity sheet to draw your own people to expand the table even more.
Learn more: www.sunrisescience.blog
17. Escape Room
Let students solve a series of chemistry-based puzzles to make their way out of the evil Professor’s lab. You can make your own puzzles or buy premade puzzle sets to get you started.
This might take some more teacher preparation but this will be a very popular classroom activity.
Learn more: www.keslerscience.com
18. Classroom Décor
Having the periodic table on display is the best way to help students get to know the elements. Having them see the elements constantly will drill it into their subconscious.
Make the table extra big for maximum effect with element tiles for your ceiling using adhesive vinyl.
Learn more: Pinterest.com
19. Make new periodic tables
The periodic table has various characteristics separating the elements and a great way for kids to gain a deeper understanding of these concepts is to create their own tables.
They can make up new periodic tables about any of their interests and divide them as they see fit.
Learn More: Teacherspayteachers.com
20. Social Media Posts
If there is one thing kids know, it is social media, so why not make the most of that knowledge by giving them this fun extension activity.
Combine their knowledge of the platform with the periodic table and have them create social media profiles for the elements.
Learn more: www.learninghypothesis.com
21. Word association
Some elements have very complicated names which can be hard to memorize. Creating word associations can break down the names into more manageable portions for easy memorizing.
It is fascinating to see the creative ideas the students come up with!
Learn more: www.learninghypothesis.com
22. Periodic table box
This can be an ongoing project that students work on throughout the term. Get them to collect items that represent the elements and add them to a segmented box.
Once their box is full they can present it to the class and teach other students about what they have found.
Learn more: http://www.homeschooling-ideas.com/
23. Edible Periodic Table
This project is not only fun and educational but it is tasty too! The whole class can work together to bake square cookies or cakes. Once they are done, everyone can decorate them and arrange them in order of the periodic table.
The best part comes at the end when everyone gets to dig into this massive mouth-watering creation!
Learn more: www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com
Final Thoughts
Students are never too young to learn about the periodic table. Get young minds interested at an early age with these fun activities or keep older kids interested by making science more relatable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should students memorize the periodic table?
Students are never too young to learn about the periodic table. Get young minds interested at an early age with these fun activities or keep older kids interested by making science more relatable.
At what age do you learn the periodic table?
Chemistry concepts might seem too complicated for young students to understand, but there are plenty of periodic table activities that can get learners interested in the subject and help them gain a basic understanding of chemistry.
They can start off by learning differences between elements or element abbreviations in preparation for more complex chemistry topics later on.
How do you teach the periodic table to students?
The periodic table is a complex concept but breaking it down into smaller, more palatable sections is the best way to ensure a firm understanding of the table. Element symbols are one of the first things students can learn.
Understanding the properties of elements can easily be taught too as students can sing songs, make diagrams, and build models.
Element game cards or an element identification game are easy ways to turn the periodic table into an interactive game to help students identify all the elements.
Internet activities are also an important resource as students can learn more about elements on their own time too.
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