Italicized font represents information to be shared orally or physically completed with the students at this time.

The non-italicized font represents additional information included to support the teacher’s understanding of the content being introduced within the CELL.

ASK WHY

Remind students that it is important to know about atoms because atoms are the building blocks of matter. We use our knowledge of atoms to explain the properties of matter, understand and manipulate matter and, ultimately, the world around us. 

BRANCH OUT

Remind students that scientists at IBM made a short film using atoms. The technology that the scientists used to make the film is the same technology that used to compress data for storage. In the future, this technology will allow people to carry around an archive of all the movies ever made!

GET FOCUSED

Inform students that the Investigation is designed to help them to answer the following Focus Questions: 

• How do the elements from the metal and nonmetal groups differ? Metals and nonmetals have different chemical properties from each other.

• What are atoms? What components make up an atom? An atom is the smallest particle of an element that still has all the properties of that element. Atoms are composed of three different types of subatomic particles: protons, neutrons, and electrons.

• What information about an element can be determined by using the Periodic Table of the Elements? It is possible to determine an element’s atomic mass, the number of protons in its atoms’ nucleus, the number of electrons normally orbiting its nucleus, and the number of neutrons found in its nucleus.

Note: These questions are located in students’ SDRs at the beginning and end of the Investigation.

Note: These are succinct responses to the Focus Questions and are placed here for your reference at this time. Fully developed responses to the Focus Questions can be found on the PostLab page.

GO DEEPER

As a class, read the Background(s) in the Investigation. Have students read the information aloud or silently to themselves. When students have finished, discuss the following concepts as a class:

• A chemical property is a property of a substance that can be observed during a chemical reaction (as opposed to physical properties that do not need chemical reactions to be observed).
• The chemical and physical properties of an element are determined by the makeup of its atomic particles, or atoms. 
• An atom is the smallest particle of an element that still has al the properties of that element.
• Atoms are composed of three different types of smaller, subatomic particles.
• The nucleus of an atom contains two different types of subatomic particles: protons and neutrons.
• Protons have a positive electrical charge.
• Neutrons are neutral (no electrical charge).
• The atomic number of an element indicates the number of protons that an element’s nucleus contains.
• The atomic mass of an atom indicates the number of protons and neutrons in an element’s nucleus.
• Orbiting the nucleus are the electrons.
• Electrons have a negative electrical charge.

Note: These concepts are integrated into the Background(s) and are used to deepen students’ comprehension of the big ideas.

LEARN THE LabLearner LINGO

The following list includes Key Terms that are introduced in the Investigation Background(s). They should be used, as appropriate, by teachers and students during everyday classroom discourse.

• physical property
• chemical property
• atom
• nucleus
• subatomic particle
• proton
• neutron
• electron

Note: Definitions to these terms can be found on the Introduction page to the CELL.

Note: Additional words may be bolded within the Background(s). These words are not Key Terms and are strictly emphasized for exposure at this time.

SET FOR SUCCESS

• Remind students that the Periodic Table is a table which organizes the elements according to their physical and chemical properties.

• • Remind students that, so far, we have looked at two major categories of elements on the Periodic Table: metals and nonmetals.

  • Complete the Recall section in students’ SDRs.
  • Talk about the following concepts: Periodic Table, elements, metals, nonmetals, physical property, chemical property and acids.
  • To refresh concepts previously taught, pick different elements on the Periodic Table and ask students to identify their group, period, atomic symbol, atomic number, and atomic mass.
  • Explain to students that, during this Investigation, they will explore a chemical property of elements: reactivity to acids. 
  • Explain to students that they will determine the reactivity of four of the elements they examined in Investigation 1 and, as a result of their investigation, they will begin to see how the Periodic Table is organized.
  • Play the video below. Stop to ask students questions or answer students’ questions when necessary. Remind students to follow along with their SDRs and make any notes that they think might be helpful.
  • After the video, direct students to divide into their lab groups to discuss their strategy for the lab. For example, they may assign certain group members to perform specific functions during the lab.

  Note: The purpose of the video is to allow students to anticipate the laboratory experience they will soon encounter. Students should leave this PreLab session with a firm idea of what to expect and how to perform in the lab.

  Note: Homework is posted below the video.

HOMEWORK

Tell students that they should review the Investigation in preparation for the Lab.