Elements make up matter, which is anything you can touch, including liquids, solids or gases. Elements are made of atoms, which include protons, neutrons and electrons. The periodic table is basically a list of all these elements, but it is organized into a manner that shows the atomic numbers in ascending order, and it suggests elements that are related to another. The rows of the periodic table show the period, or a means of classifying the element. The elements are often color-coded or labeled by group, which is the family to which the element belongs. Elements are also usually represented by an abbreviation of one or two letters; the first is always capitalized and the second is always lower case.
Scientists at DePauw University made a display of the elements of the periodic table; make your own display by choosing four to eight elements you are able to collect, like iron, copper, gold, silver, aluminum, carbon, nickel, sodium, helium or oxygen. Divide a box into separate sections for each element and fill each box with objects made from that element; for example, put a top on an empty bottle and you have oxygen, or put tin foil, knitting needles or soda cans in a compartment for aluminum. Observe and compare the different elements. Complete element word searches, hangman games, crossword puzzles or matching games. Divide the class into teams; one person from each team picks an element, and the other person must guess that element by asking questions about its properties. Hand out a copy of the periodic table with no color and ask students to color the metals and non-metals with different shades; repeat and color the gases, liquids and solids with different shades.
Before explaining the periodic table, your students must understand atoms. Teach your students that each atom has positively charged particles called protons, negatively charged particles called electrons and particles with no charge called neutrons. Usually, atoms have the same number of all three particles. Explain that the periodic table shows the number of protons. Give each student the designation of proton, electron or neutron; call out an element on the periodic table and ask students to group themselves with the proper number of protons, electrons and neutrons. Teach the history of the periodic table, the way it is organized and what properties the different families have in common. For example, the noble gases are in group 18, to the far right of the table. The lanthanides and actinides are separated from the main table because they do not occur naturally but are made synthetically.
When teaching anything to children, be enthusiastic and have a light tone of voice; students respond well when they think their teacher really loves the subject. Do an activity rather than simply asking students to listen to your lecture whenever possible. Reinforce learning with activities like worksheets and flash cards. Ask students to complete assignments in groups when appropriate. Use visual aids; the periodic table itself is a visual representation. Put information into a song that you teach to the class.