SCIENCE MATTERS:
ATOMS AND MOLECULES

ATOMS AND MOLECULES LESSON PLAN

Materials:

• Atoms and Molecules Worksheet
• A Periodic Table of the Elements.

  If one is not available, an excellent version is found at the website listed below.  This version of the Periodic Table was created with elementary and middle school students in mind.     
  http://www.sciencegeek.net/tables/jlab_colortableofelements.pdf

Classroom Activity:
Exploring the Periodic Table of the Elements

1. Using the Periodic Table, show students that each element has a name, a symbol (a two letter abbreviation), and an atomic number.
2. Show them how they can use the Periodic Table to learn about what phase of matter, solid, liquid, or gas, the element is most commonly found.
3. Discuss how the Periodic Table arranges the elements in order from smallest to largest.  Hydrogen has only one proton and one electron and is the lightest element—and so it has an atomic number of one.  Sulfur, has 16 protons, and an atomic number of 16.  Mercury, has 80 protons, and has an atomic number of 80.
4. Ensure that the students understand the relationship between the atomic number of each element and the number of protons in that element (they are the same).