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Product Highlights

• Investigate periodicity by exploring and manipulating periodic table element cards.
• High school modeling activity with manipulatives and enough materials for 10 lab groups.
• Carolina Kits 3D®—Labs that use phenomena to support NGSS and 3-dimensional instruction.

Astrobiologists have theorized that life on other planets might be silicon based as opposed to the carbon-based life that exists on Earth. In this lab, students seek to understand this phenomenon by constructing models of the elements based on their chemical and physical characteristics. They then compare their models to the periodic table and 3 alternative periodic tables with the goal of answering the driving question, “What patterns can be identified in the design of the periodic table, and how can those patterns be used to make predictions?”

Time Requirement
Total, 270 minutes. Teacher prep, 15 minutes. Pre-lab, 30 minutes. Three investigations, 45 minutes each. Assessment and debate, 90 minutes.

Digital Resources
Includes 1-year access to digital resources that support 3-dimensional instruction for NGSS. Digital resources may include a teacher manual and student guide, pre-lab activities and setup videos, phenomenon videos, simulations, and post-lab analysis and assessments.

Performance Expectations
HS-PS1-1
HS-PS1-2

Crosscutting Concepts
Patterns

Disciplinary Core Ideas
PS1.A: Structure and Properties of Matter

Science and Engineering Practices
Developing and Using Models

Learning Objectives

• Organize the element cards based on the patterns of the elements’ physical and chemical properties.
• Investigate repeating patterns and predict periodicity for atomic radius, electronegativity, and ionization energy.
• Compare and contrast multiple versions of the periodic table.

Prerequisite Knowledge and Skills
Students should be familiar with the definitions of an element and an atom; the basic structure of the atom, including valence electrons; and the physical and chemical properties of elements.