Linda (Australia) Posted February 28, 2013 Share Posted February 28, 2013 Hi - anyone know of a no-fuss, interesting, even fun way to learn about the periodic table? I have a 16 year old - not much interest in science, but she is interested in learning the periodic table! Any ideas? Any downloadable things we could look at? Or any suggested resources? Thanks! Linda. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PinkyandtheBrains. Posted February 28, 2013 Share Posted February 28, 2013 I don't know where be bought them, but we have a deck of playing cards that have the elements on them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nscribe Posted February 28, 2013 Share Posted February 28, 2013 I tend to think of the Periodic Table as a tool to be used, not a list to be memorized. There are principles around which it is organized, a copy of the table and explanation of those is one part of it. The other part for us has been making it represent real things in the real world. That is where The Elements: A Visual Exploration of Every Known Atom in the Universe, by Theodore Gray really shines without being in a lab. Then, being in a lab really brings it all to life. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbmamaz Posted February 28, 2013 Share Posted February 28, 2013 we played this elements game a few times. she also has a chemistry unit but i dont know much about it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amethyst Posted February 28, 2013 Share Posted February 28, 2013 I tend to think of the Periodic Table as a tool to be used, not a list to be memorized. I agree with this. My boys are science majors and I still have the periodical table poster hanging in our dining room because my son who is taking Organic Chemistry in college this year just asked me to hang it up again. But if she really wants to memorize it for kicks, I wouldn't stop her. I don't know of any good ways to memorize it but I know some videos that will make it more interesting. Some of them are a riot. Some have interesting explosions. Fun to watch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jhschool Posted February 28, 2013 Share Posted February 28, 2013 When DC was 6 he memorized all the elements for fun. He's forgotten them now. I would buy a Tshirt. http://www.cafepress.com/mf/28544842/ptc-tp-logo_tshirt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starr Posted February 28, 2013 Share Posted February 28, 2013 or a shower curtain :D http://www.thinkgeek.com/product/8a2f/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fairfarmhand Posted February 28, 2013 Share Posted February 28, 2013 http://www.amazon.com/Science-Guru-Sudoku-Periodic-ebook/dp/B008GTHXDO/ref=sr_1_29?ie=UTF8&qid=1362067720&sr=8-29&keywords=jennise+conley I recommend this book. It discusses the history of the table, what each element box includes, etc. And she gets to play some sudoku games with a few of the most common elements. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jhschool Posted February 28, 2013 Share Posted February 28, 2013 or a shower curtain :D http://www.thinkgeek.com/product/8a2f/ I want that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arcadia Posted February 28, 2013 Share Posted February 28, 2013 My kids love the NOVA elements ipad app. The website is good too without the app http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/physics/hunting-elements.html We also made a floor puzzle of the periodic table using the cards in the pdf on this page http://www.ellenjmchenry.com/homeschool-freedownloads/chemistry-games/quicksix.php If you don't mind having the Bayer logo, the company has a nice pdf of the periodic table which list the common use of each element. http://www.bayerus.com/MSMS/web_docs/PeriodicChart.pdf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twigs Posted February 28, 2013 Share Posted February 28, 2013 :bigear: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kareni Posted February 28, 2013 Share Posted February 28, 2013 This doesn't really teach it, per se, but this is always fun when studying the elements: http://www.privateha...h/elements.html Seconding the Tom Lehrer recommendation. Regards, Kareni Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dicentra Posted February 28, 2013 Share Posted February 28, 2013 If you're looking for free, downloadable stuff, you could start here: http://elements.wlonk.com/ You could try some of these: http://www.ptable.com/ http://www.chemicool.com/ http://www.rsc.org/periodic-table This is Theo Gray's website (author of "The Elements" book mentioned above): http://periodictable.com/ If you Google "periodic table", you'll get more hits than you'll know what to do with. :) Here's some stuff you could order from The Book Depository: http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/Mystery-Periodic-Table-Ben-Wiker/9781883937713 (might be kind of "young" for your daughter but it's an interesting read for kids) http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/Periodic-Table-Elements-Coloring-Teresa-Bondora/9781466484290 (if your daughter is into colouring :)) http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/Natures-Building-Blocks-John-Emsley/9780199605637 (haven't seen this one personally but might be more "heavy-duty" chemistry) http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/Basher-Science-Periodic-Table-Adrian-Dingle/9780753433898 (cool Manga illustrations) or he has flashcards, too: http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/Periodic-Table-Flashcards-Simon-Basher/9780753466087 Here's "The Elements" book that was mentioned above: http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/Elements-Theodore-Gray/9781579128142 It also comes as a jigsaw puzzle: http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/Elements-Jigsaw-Puzzle-Theodore-Gray/9781579128883 And a deck of cards (maybe this is what a pp was thinking of): http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/Photographic-Card-Deck-Elements-Theodore-Gray/9781603761987 And a "vault" book with actual element samples: http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/Theodore-Grays-Elements-Vault-Theodore-Gray/9781579128807 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dicentra Posted February 28, 2013 Share Posted February 28, 2013 or a shower curtain :D http://www.thinkgeek.com/product/8a2f/ Don't Sheldon and Leonard have a periodic table shower curtain? I think they might... :D I have these: http://www.amazon.com/Periodic-Elements-Placemat-M-Ruskin/dp/B000H6F4W6 And also this: http://www.amazon.com/The-Periodic-Table-Elements-Magnets/dp/B000MKDEHO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1362084499&sr=8-1&keywords=periodic+table+magnets Because they make me happy. :w00t: And, since ThinkGeek is out of stock of the shower curtain, you can get it through Amazon as well: http://www.amazon.com/Periodic-Table-Shower-Curtain-vinyl/dp/B00176V42O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1362084413&sr=8-1&keywords=periodic+table+shower+curtain Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BakersDozen Posted February 28, 2013 Share Posted February 28, 2013 We have the shower curtain. :) My dc loved The Elements "story" of the Periodic Table and remember it even 5 years later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
klmama Posted February 28, 2013 Share Posted February 28, 2013 sheppardsoftwaredotcom :iagree: My elementary student decided to learn the table and now can recite most of it from practicing with this site. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GailV Posted February 28, 2013 Share Posted February 28, 2013 Don't Sheldon and Leonard have a periodic table shower curtain? I think they might... :D That's why dd wanted one. Tom's has shoes with the periodic table. http://www.toms.com/periodic-table?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=SocialMedia&utm_campaign=PeriodicClassic&CID=SM_7900247 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Linda (Australia) Posted March 1, 2013 Author Share Posted March 1, 2013 http://www.amazon.co...=jennise conley I recommend this book. It discusses the history of the table, what each element box includes, etc. And she gets to play some sudoku games with a few of the most common elements. We have a WINNER! Although I'm VERY fascinated that there's a shower curtain, she's very into sudoku, and I think she'll LOVE this - thankyou! Thanks for all the great ideas - I think we'll be having some fun with this topic - love the song, too! :hurray: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garddwr Posted March 1, 2013 Share Posted March 1, 2013 Y'all are an amazing well of information. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mumto2 Posted March 1, 2013 Share Posted March 1, 2013 Ellen McHenry's first chemistry course taught the periodic table. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Linda (Australia) Posted March 1, 2013 Author Share Posted March 1, 2013 Y'all are an amazing well of information. They sure are - this has been a fantastic help - thanks all! :thumbup1: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
In The Great White North Posted March 1, 2013 Share Posted March 1, 2013 http://www.amazon.co...=jennise conley I recommend this book. It discusses the history of the table, what each element box includes, etc. And she gets to play some sudoku games with a few of the most common elements. Amazon needs a few more pages on their "Look Inside" feature. How do you play Sudoku with this? Do you just use the first 10 elements? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saddlemomma Posted March 1, 2013 Share Posted March 1, 2013 I'll be doing Chemistry with my rising 5th grader next year. I though about the periodic table a lot and came up with an idea: I'm going to build a large, blank table (on cardboard or posterboard) to hang on the wall and each time we learn a new element, I'm going to have dd design the card and place it in the correct spot on the blank table. Then before each science class, we'll review the board. I'm not sure how a 16 YO would feel about doing this, but it's just the idea I came up with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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