The Great Element Heist - Fall Chemistry Activity - Perfect for Thanksgiving!

★ This activity is perfect for Thanksgiving, Fall, or anytime of the year! ★

 

💡The mission: Students will use their knowledge of periodic trends, atomic structure, and element properties to identify which element each scarecrow stole. Once they've cracked all the clues, they arrange the elements in order by atomic number to restore the periodic table!!

🎯Focus areas for this activity are:

• Atomic number and protons
• Groups and periods
• Periodic trends (reactivity, metallicity)
• Element symbols and names
• Element properties and uses
• Valence electrons and bonding
• Metal/nonmetal/metalloid classification

 

NGSS:

• MS-PS1-1, HS-PS1-1, HS-PS1-2
  

TEKS:

• 7.6.A, CHEM.5.A, CHEM.5.B, CHEM.5.C
  

 

This Spooky Science Experiment comes with:

✔ An engaging and fun activity for chemistry

✔ Standard and Harder Versions

✔ Digital Google Slides and Printable PDF Versions for students.

✔ Editable PPTX file so you can make it your own

✔ 15 Mystery Elements to identify using the provided clues and hints.

✔ Extension: Student Created Partner Activity to practice and grow together

✔ 5 Discussion Questions to expand student thinking

✔ Teacher Answer Key - Check for understanding/grade quicker!

What will the students be doing?

• Students will be given either a printed or digital article to read.
• Then, they will use the text and their own research to answer the questions at the end of the article.
• All research questions are designed to easily spark class discussions!

 

What materials are needed?

• Either 1 printed copy per student OR the digital version assigned
• An internet enabled device for research as needed.
• Access to a Periodic Table

When should I use this resource in my class?

✔ When studying science in general

✔ Perfect review resource or extension activity

✔ This makes for the perfect homework or individual activity

✔ When looking to link outside world into your classroom

✔ Wanting to tie in literacy or research into your lessons?

✔ Anytime you want to get students excited about science!

 

➡ Please note that these articles do assume you've covered at least some basic science terminology beforehand. This is designed to be a supplemental resource not a sole source of teaching.

 

Where did this resource come from?

Our own classrooms! Within middle school science, connecting concepts beyond the classroom is often a subject that generates a lot of interest but can be difficult to do. We've found that exploring the real world around us really helps to solidify student understanding; hence Sciesmic was born! All resources are based on authentic sources and vetted for accuracy.

 

What if I have a Question?

Drop us a note in the Q&A, or email us directly at support@Sciesmic.com