Teaching sequence

Step 1

Exploring the periodic table

Allow students to freely explore the periodic table on a website here.

Do a teacher demonstrate to your students using an element for your choose and find/observe the following:

The atomic number of an element. What does the atomic number mean? (Number of protons in the nucleus.)
The unique letter symbol given to each element.
The atomic numbers go from left to right on the table.
The number of free electrons in the outer shell of the element progress from 1 on the left column and adds one further electron until on the far right column of the shell is full.
The arrangement of elements into blocks shows that these elements have chemical properties in common.

Step 2

Investigating three metal elements

Students will investigate aluminium and two other elements of their choice (could be metals used in other items of packaging and manufacturing). They should get their information from the periodic table and the Student Toolbox. They can use the Lotus diagram thinking tool to organise their information. It can be printed and hand written or students can work online to fill in a lotus diagram template directly into their Student Worksheet.

Instructions for using a lotus diagram.

There are nine major squares/rectangles in the diagram. Each square can potentially be divided into nine more.
The topic that is being investigated is placed in the central square.
In each of the eight squares around the topic, a question of interest is placed and answered.
If there is time, students can start to add more questions and answers around their eight questions. There is no expectation that student would attempt to fill in each square, only where it is relevant.

Examples of questions of interest are:

Atomic number
Chemical symbol
Interesting properties
History
What the element is used for
What is its current price
How common/sustainable is it as a resource
How it can be reused or recycled

If students are to use the tool to go one level further, answering more detailed questions, ask them to focus on recycling and reusing.

Student use a separate lotus diagram for each of their chosen metal elements.

Step 3

Adopt an element poster

Explain to your students that they are in charge of an orphanage for young, parentless elements. Many have come to you as baby elements, after their parents were accidentally evaporated or forced to bond with other elements. You are in charge of adopting out little baby aluminium. The best way to do this is to design an advertisement showing prospective parents just how wonderful aluminium is!

Using there previous research, they should create a poster showing:

Name and symbol
Atomic number and atomic mass
Electron, neutron and proton configuration
Properties including melting point, boiling point, conductivity, malleability, luster and if it's ductile
Use of the element in everyday life
The history of the element
Other chemicals it likes to bond with
Amount in the earths crust
If it can be recycled and reused
Any other interesting information.

Students can be marked on the following criteria:

Name:

Criterion	Total marks available	Marks awarded
1.Name and symbol	2
2. Atomic number and atomic mass	3
3. Electron, neutron and proton configuration	3
4. Properties including melting point, boiling point, conductivity, malleability, luster and if it's ductile	6
5. Use of the element in everyday life	2
6. The history of the element	3
7. Other chemicals it likes to bond with	2
8. Amount in the earths crust	2
9. If it can be recycled and reused	3
10. Any other interesting information	2
11. Presentation	2
TOTAL	30

Comments:

Assessment/Review Questions

What is the difference between an element and compound?
How are the properties of bauxite and aluminium different?
What are some properties of aluminium that make it good for packaging?

Take this opportunity to reflect on your own teaching

What did you learn about your teaching today?
What worked well?
What didn't work so well?
What would you share?
Where to next?
How are you going to get there?

National Recycling Week - Adopt an Element

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