Hydrogen, which has one proton and one electron has a weight of 1. The number at the bottom of the element’s box is the atomic weight, or total weight of protons, neutrons, and electrons for that element. The symbol for carbon is C, the symbol for lead is Pb and comes from the Latin for lead which is plumbum. The letters in each box are a symbol for the chemical. The Boron group has three electrons, and so on up to the noble gases which have eight electrons in their outer shell. Then we skip the dropped down section and go to the group that begins with Boron. The first group, the Alkali metals, have one outer shell electron. Groups run vertically down the table and all elements in a particular group have the same number of electrons in their outer shell, so they behave in similar ways. The atomic number is the large number at the top of the box for a particular element. The atomic number is the number of protons in an atom. Periods run horizontally across the table in rows and the atomic number goes up one as you move from left to right. Next, learn some of the rules of the periodic table. Read about families of elements in the books you got from the library. They behave in similar ways physically and chemically. Families are elements that have similar properties. Start by coloring the families of elements as shown in the example below. It doesn’t affect your cost and it helps us run our website. The colored smilies above each book tell you what age level they’re recommended for.Īs Amazon affiliates, the recommended books and products below kick back a tiny percentage of your purchase to us. Here are some suggestions, but if you can’t find these, look for books at your library about motion, physics, gravity, and friction. Step 1: Library Researchīefore you begin exploring, read a book or two about the periodic table of the elements. The periodic table is one evidence that the universe is orderly and predictable. As the periodic table was being developed there were many undiscovered elements whose presence was predicted based on a blank spot in the chart. With this method elements are grouped next to other elements that are similar. The periodic table of the elements is a visual way that chemists have developed to organize the elements of the universe. Layers of Learning has hands-on experiments in every unit of this family-friendly curriculum. The periodic table of the elements lesson is a chemistry exploration from Layers of Learning Unit 1-13 about elements. Unit 1-13: Ancient India, Grasslands, Elements, Texture & Form Building A Layers of Learning Homeschool.