Atoms! Atoms! Atoms! And the Periodic Table Too! Activities!

Studying atoms and the periodic table can get tedious. I find that if students can complete some hands-on, fun activities, they not only stay engaged, but learn and retain the information.

Here are eight activities worthy of accompanying your unit on atoms and the periodic table. Add these in for fun, for review, and for good old-fashioned competition. A periodic table will be needed for these activities. Since they are widely available, none is provided here, except the blank periodic table necessary for one of the activities.

The activities, which include answer keys and rubric where appropriate, are listed below:

- Introduction to Atomic Structure - information and a fill-in sheet on symbols, protons, neutrons, and electrons.
- Name That Atom! - Power point slides of anonymous atoms - some have protons, some have electrons. Can you name that atom? Fill-in sheet accompanies this.
- Candy Atoms. Students use candy such as M&M's for electrons to place on an atom template after they have pulled an 'element' card. First group to complete their atom wins points. Then on to the next round! Two sets of 20 element cards are included.
- Make an Atom Mobile! Instructions for making a three-dimensional, hanging atom mobile. Template and grading rubric included. Decorate your room with hanging atoms!
- Get Familiar With The Periodic Table - students use map pencils to color a blank periodic table identifying various groups such as alkali metals, and identifying metals, nonmetals, and metalloids.
- Element Scramble! Students unscramble misspelled element names.
- In Chemical Words! A list of words is given and students must figure out which element symbols were used to make that word.
- Periodic Table Word Search! The opposite of 'In Chemical Words'. Students create words by combining symbols on the periodic table.

Use some or all of the activities to supplement your atoms unit. Activities cover different learning styles so there is something for everyone!

You may be interested in these related products:
Atomic Theory - Warm-Ups, Exit Tickets, and Journal Activities
Atomic Structure Activity Sheet
Atoms and Radioactive Decay
Quick Fun Atom Models
Periodic Table Element Cards Set
Getting To Know the Periodic Table