Virginia Department of Education
Elements and Electron Configuration
It's electronic! Pupils uncover elements and their electron configurations as they explore mass, groupings, correct charges, and sliding theory. Young scientists learn creative ways to remember various elements and correctly...
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Composition of the Atom
Young scholars investigate the structure of the atom and its composition. In this atom structure lesson, students find the area of cut out circles and drop pens into the circles. They count the number of marks in the circles and relate...
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Periodic Table Lesson Plan
Learners describe how elements are arranged on the periodic table. They compare metals, nonmetals, and metalloids based on their properties and on their locations in the periodic table. Students describe the differences between a...
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Protons, Neutrons, and Electrons
Using the periodic table of elements, young chemists fill in a chart of isotopes to show the atomic number, mass, charge, number of protons, number of neutrons, and number of electrons. The chart is followed by 11 questions that...
Virginia Department of Education
Radioactive Decay and Half-Life
Explain the importance of radioactive half-life as your high school biologists demonstrate the concept by performing a series of steps designed to simulate radioactive decay. Pupils use pennies to perform an experiment and gather data....
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The Elements
Fifth graders explore the differences between elements. In this elements and atoms lesson students complete an activity that shows how chemicals react to a flame test.
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What's the Matter? Locating Electrons in an Atom
Young scholars roll dice in order to simulate the probability of locating an electron in a certain region around the nucleus.
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Clay Atoms-Taming Our Fear Of The Invisible
Learners create atoms with clay by using different colors to represent the protons, neutrons and nucleus. For this creative lesson students use clay to learn about atoms and see how they apply to the periodic table.
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Periodic Table of Elements
Young scholars use reference skills to locate information about the periodic table.
They identify elements by name, atomic number, atomic mass, symbol and properties. Students use mathematical processes to find the number of...
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What Are Elements?
Students investigate elements by by defining scientific terms. In this Periodic Table of Elements lesson, students utilize a glass of water, and powdered fruit drink to perform a lab activity demonstrating properties of certain...
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Atomic Structure and Ionic Bonding (A Visual Approach)
Using toothpicks, marshmallows, and round colored sticky dots, physical science enthusiasts build models of an atomic nucleus. In this eighth grade chemistry lesson plan, they play an atom-naming game with the models that they have...
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What is Everything Made of?
Pupils observe a demonstration on how we see space between water molecules. In this experimental lesson plan students discover what elements make up the things around them and discuss what they learned.
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Periodic Table & Its Trends
Students review atomic structure and then participate in a activity in which they categorize several "elements" into some form of order based on their properties. They discuss the trends they see. They also practice several electron...
Beyond Benign
Catalysts and Oxygen
Here is an engaging and hands-on lesson plan that allows high school chemists to demonstrate the effects of a catalyst on various chemicals. They garner knowledge of how reactants and products differ from one another, while...
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Periodic Table
Students relate to the idea of periodicity & give example of other periodic events and identify and use the periodic table as a useful resource. They also identify the relationship of elements to certain groups & periods &...
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What is an Atom?
Third graders understand that the smallest particle is an atom. In this matter lesson, 3rd graders make a piece of aluminum smaller and smaller to see that what's left is still aluminum. Students recognize that cutting into smaller...
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Chemical Families
Ninth graders describe that matter is made of minute particles called atoms, explain structure and properties of atoms, classify chemicals, locate chemicals on the periodic table, and play Jeopardy.
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Atoms
Eighth graders explain what makes up matter. In this atoms instructional activity students define an atom and what its components are and identify properties of elements.
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Atomic Structure and Quantum Theory
Learners are introduced to the structure of an atom and Dalton's atomic theory through a short video and mini-lecture. They also take a look at the weight of mass and become familiar with the idea of quantum theory
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Calculating the Average Mass of the Newly Discovered Element: Bean
Students determine the average mass of a new element using masses from three isotopes. In this chemistry lesson plan, students explain what an isotope is. They discuss their importance and uses.
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Atomic Structure - Part A
Students describe the structure of atoms, including the particles that make them up. They recognize that key scientists and experiments have contributed to the changes
in the Atomic Theory.
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Gases and Plasmas
Young scholars determine what plasma is and why the sun is made up of plasma. They recognize situations where plasmas are found in nature and made by man. They discuss why the sun is a huge ball of plasma and if there are different...
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Doing Lewis Dot Diagrams
Students observe the periodic table and draw the Lewis Dot Diagram. In this investigative lesson students construct information on several elements including the Lewis Dot Formation and take a quiz on the information they...
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Are You Charged?
Fourth graders study the charges on ions and familiarize themselves with a quick way to remember charges based on location of elements on the periodic table. They complete a worksheet and share their answers with the class.