Summary
In this lesson, students will learn how to predict electron configuration and valence electrons by exploring patterns within the periodic table. Students will discover that elements are arranged in increasing order of their atomic number in the periodic table, and then the elements repeat their properties after a definite interval. As a prerequisite to this lesson, students should be able to read electron configurations.
Essential Question(s)
How do patterns allow for making predictions? How can the periodic table be used to make predictions about the properties of elements?
Snapshot
Engage
Students predict missing portions of a ROYGBIV visual table.
Explore
Students investigate the electron configuration patterns of the periodic table.
Explain
Students color in a periodic table to reflect the patterns they found.
Extend
Students investigate the valence electrons patterns of the periodic table.
Evaluate
Students write a Word Splash about what they have learned.
Materials
Lesson Slides (attached)
Explore handout (attached; 1 per student)
Electron Configuration Cards (attached; 1 card per group of three students)
Valence Electrons handout (attached; 1 per student)
Periodic Table handout (attached; 1 per student)
Class periodic table (large enough that a sticky note should fit inside each square)
Colored pencils or markers
Sticky notes (1 stack per group of three students)
Engage
10 Minute(s)
Use the attached Lesson Slides to guide the instruction. Display slide 2 and provide an introduction to the lesson. Point out the word "periodicity," and share the following definition with students: Periodicity is the repetition of something after a certain interval. Consider asking students if they can think of some things that occur at regular intervals Possible responses might include a full moon occurring about every 29 days, a year occurring every 365 days, or a day occurring every 24 hours. In chemistry, periodicity refers to the recurring trends that are seen in the properties of elements.
Share the essential questions with students on slide 3. Go to slide 4 and go over the learning objectives. Go to slide 5, and give students a few minutes to consider how they would fill in the missing parts of the grid and why. Have some students share what they are thinking and how they came to that conclusion.
Go to slide 6. The correct answer is the image on the right. Point out the patterns.
The patterns in the ROYGBIV table are similar to the periodic table which will be explored throughout the lesson. The horizontal pattern in the ROYGBIV table is analogous to the electron configuration in the periodic table, while the vertical pattern is analogous to the valence electrons.
Explore
45 Minute(s)
Go to slide 7. Put students into groups of about three, and pass out one of the attached Explore handouts to each student. Next, give each group one Electron Configuration Card and a pad of sticky notes.
Have students work on the Explore handout, including having students putting sticky notes on the classroom size periodic table.
Explain
15 Minute(s)
Go to slide 8. Pass out one of the attached Periodic Table handouts to each student. Let students pick four colors of markers or colored pencils. Based on what they learned in the Explore activity, have the students color the s, p, d, and f blocks four unique colors in their handouts. Remind them to add a legend indicating which color represents which block.
Extend
30 Minute(s)
Go to slide 9. Pass out one of the attached Valence Electrons handouts to each student. Have students return to their groups from the Explore activity and ask them to complete the handout. This time, students should work with their group to write the number of valence electrons they determined for each group on the sticky notes. Have students place their sticky notes over each group.
Evaluate
10 Minute(s)
Go to slide 10. Have students participate in a Word Splash activity, using all of the words listed to write synthesis statements connecting all the words.
Electron configuration
Periodic table
Valence electrons
Electron orbitals
s, p, d, and f orbitals
Resources
K20 Center. (n.d.). Word splash. Strategies. https://learn.k20center.ou.edu/strategy/199