Periodic Table Sub Plan (No Prep): Sort Mystery Elements, Grades 5-8

Scientists on planet Zorb found 12 elements and want a table where the elements run in order and each column holds elements that act alike. Students get 12 made-up element cards (mass, shiny or dull, how it reacts with water, solid or gas) in a jumbled grid and arrange them into a 3-row, 4-column table. There is exactly one arrangement that works. Then they predict the properties of a missing 13th element from its place in the table, and answer three questions that compare their Zorb table with Earth's real periodic table (rows are periods, columns are groups).

What's inside

• Sub Plan, 2 pages
• Student Packet, 2 pages
• Answer Key, 1 page, with a suggested 30-point grading guide
• 6 files in all. Print only: no slides, no tech, no lab, no scissors.

Answer key included

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