Students learn about the periodic table and how pervasive the elements are in our daily lives. After reviewing the table organization and facts about the first 20 elements, they play an element identification game. They also learn that engineers incorporate these elements into the design of new products and processes. Acting as computer and animation engineers, students creatively express their new knowledge by creating a superhero character based on of the elements they now know so well. They will then pair with another superhero and create a dynamic duo out of the two elements, which will represent a molecule.

Through three lessons and their four associated activities, students are introduced to concepts related to mixtures and solutions. Students consider how mixtures and solutions and atoms and molecules can influence new technologies developed by engineers. To begin, students explore the fundamentals of atoms and their structures. The building blocks of matter (protons, electrons, neutrons) are covered in detail. The next lesson examines the properties of elements and the periodic table one method of organization for the elements. The concepts of physical and chemical properties are also reviewed. Finally, the last lesson introduces the properties of mixtures and solutions. A comparison of different mixtures and solutions, their properties and their separation qualities are explored.

When two or more atoms combine they give rise to a molecule. A molecule can be made up of many atoms of the same element. There are 112 elements known to man, so can you imagine the different permutations and combinations of molecules that can exist freely in nature or be synthesized in a laboratory? [1:58]

A great site with a wealth of information on aluminum. Exceptionally thorough and helpful.

This is as thorough as site as you will find for information of all kinds on arsenic. Very helpful.

A great deal of information on boron, and its physical and chemical properties, all arranged and organized in a very convenient way.

EnvironmentalChemistry.com offers an extensive site on the element, Einsteinium, of the Periodic Table of Elements.

Extremely thorough site with all sorts of information on europium. Very helpful resource.

This is as helpful and detailed a reference as you'll likely find on iodine or any basic information relating to iodine. Highly recommended.

An exceptionally detailed and helpful resource for all sorts of information on nitrogen.

An incredibly thorough site with a wealth of basic information on oxygen. Highly recommended.

An oustanding source of information for all sorts of general information on palladium.

Excellent source of information on phosphorus including its physical and chemical properties. Highly recommended.

This lesson plan examines the properties of elements and the periodic table. Students learn the basic definition of an element and the 18 elements that build most of the matter in the universe. The periodic table is described as one method of organization for the elements. The concepts of physical and chemical properties are also reviewed.