Middle School Inquiry Lab on Periodic Table Trends
In this lab students will discover how the periodic table is arranged using groups and periods. They will also classify elements into metals, nonmetals, and metalloids.
Each inquiry lab will contain an essential question that will drive the lesson and make students think. For this lesson, the essential question is:
- How can you use the arrangement of the periodic table to predict properties and classify elements?
BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND MATERIALS LIST:
Students will begin the lab by reading the essential question and background information. This can be done individually, as lab groups, or as a whole class. If you consider lab groups, you also might include some type of whole class formative checks before digging into the lab.
Materials List:
- scissors
- glue stick
- colored pencils
- internet access (for independent level)
PROCEDURE:
Students will be completing three activities for this lab. First, students will construct a periodic table by atomic numbers and class. Students will also have to create a key indicating whether the elements belong to metals, nonmetals, or metalloid class.
Second, the students will have to follow a set of clues to determine the identity of the element in question. Using clues related to classification, valence electrons, mass, and physical properties, students will use the periodic table to determine the element’s identity. Students will show their understanding by creating their own clues.
Finally, students will have to determine which elements do not belong in a particular set. Using the periodic table, students will have to identify the element symbol that does not belong and will have to justify why it does not match the other elements in the group. Students will then have to create their own set and explain which elements do not belong and why.
CHECK FOR UNDERSTANDING:
At this point in the lab, students will be checked for understanding by answering questions about their findings. Here is one that comes with the lab:
- Which elements did you use to predict the properties of the missing element? Why?
CONCLUSION
Students will go back to the essential question and write a CER (Claim, Evidence, Reasoning) to conclude the lab. Once completed, students will reflect back on their learning by answering the following questions:
- Why are groups important in the periodic table?
- What is strange about the placement of hydrogen in the periodic table?
MODIFIED AND INDEPENDENT INQUIRY VERSIONS
All of the Kesler Science inquiry labs come with three different modification levels. Each lab is differentiated using the icons below.
STANDARDS ALIGNMENT
TEKS: 8.5C – Interpret the arrangement of the periodic table, including groups and periods, to explain how properties are used to classify elements.
