Claudia Wallace Creekview High School Carrollton wallacec@cfbisd.edu
Jane Smith Centennial High School Frisco smithja@friscoisd.org
If you're going to be doing activities in groups, it's nice to be able to vary the group constituents. Here are some suggestions to help.
Sometimes you just have to memorize. Here are some fun ways to encourage and help your students get some of those necessary basics memorized.
Element Names and Symbols?
This is a way to review elements and symbols. Students have to match the correct element name and symbol. This version is a little different from the one I’ve shared previously. (This one should be easier.) Make it ahead of time and keep it in your bag of tricks to pull out when you need it. Hint-make it larger and laminate it; store in zip-lock bags; make enough so that kids can work in teams of two.
Metric Conversions?
All of these work the same as the triangle puzzle above except they form 4 x 4 squares. The conversion puzzle involves metric conversions such as 1 L = 1000 mL.
Ion Names and Formulas?
The Polyatomic Ion puzzle involves matching names and formulas and the Acid/Base puzzle matches names and formulas.
Bingo is always good
Everyone plays bingo but have you played Chem-O, spdf or Poly-O. Same idea, just different calling cards. Keep a generic set of blank bingo cards on hand and you are ready to review at a moments notice. Chem-O is a great way to review elements and symbols. Let the kids make their own cards by writing the name of the element in the box so you can call the symbol or write the symbol in the box so you can call the name. spdf works the same way, only this time you are reviewing electron configuration. Let students write the element name or symbol in the box and you call the 2s2 or 4d7. Poly-O reviews names and formulas of polyatomic ions. Let the kids write the formulas in the box and you call the name.
Concentration is great too!
Make a set of large 5 X 8 cards with 12 pairs of matching items (like element name/symbol) and write the clue on one side and a number (1-24) on the other. This is easy to prepare and can be used with many topics.
I have - who has?
This is a quick and easy way to review equipment and uses.I have a laminated set of cards made that has picture of the equipment. Every student has a card. Each card begins with the statement; ‘I have a ________ ‘and ends with ‘who has something to _____________? This idea could be applied to other topics as well.
Practice is always more fun in the form of a puzzle
Significant Figures
This is a quick way to check for understanding about sig figs. Students are to shade in the blocks containing a number with three significant figures. When done correctly, it shows the letters ‘S F’ and some doodles in the corner.
The Periodic Table
I got this several years ago (hope it wasn’t yours, but if so, thanks), tweaked it to work with my kids and have been using it with Pre-AP. It requires some thinking on the part of the students but I believe it is worth while. What element am I? is a puzzle that involves periodic table and bonding clues and the answer spells out a mystery element - Bismuth!
Writing Chemical Names and Formulas
This is a fun worksheet for writing ionic formulas. Students must write the correct formula and then count the number of ions in the formula. They shade in the Erlenmeyer that has the number of ions on it. There will be one left over. See if you can find it!
Molar Conversions
This molar conversion puzzle involves conversions between mass, moles, and particles - mostly for compounds. I use the TAKS periodic table and rounded atomic masses to the hundredths place. If students convert correctly, they will shade in an element of "massive" importance.
This is a stoichiometry exercise that has a crossword puzzle attached to it. After working the problems using the correct number of sig figs, students turn their calculator (works best with a regular scientific one rather than a graphing calculator) upside down and read the word that then goes into the crossword.
Acids and Bases
This puzzle lets students convert between hydrogen ion, hydroxide ion, pH and pOH to solve the mystery of which way the see saw will tilt!
Boiling Point and Imfs
This is a worksheet that requires some thinking on the part of the student. It is a review of boiling points and trends. Not as easy as it looks!
Make reviewing a game. A little competition and a little cooperation can help student learning soar.
20 Questions
This is one that just popped into my head one day with about 5 minutes left in the period. Using only their periodic tables and yes/no questions, have students guess what element you are thinking of. If you can give incentives - mole bucks, candy, stickers - for either asking a question that advanced the class' knowledge or beats another class' record in fewest clues, all the better. Absolutely no prep needed - yippee!
The Formula Game
This is an old one that I made up when I first started teaching. It never gets old seeng the kids playing it and having fun. You need to make a set of cards with one element symbol on each. Divide the class into teams of at least 5 students. The teacher calls out a compound and the teams have to build the formula. Rules are that one student holds one card until all are holding and then they can double up if needed. Symbols must be in the correct order and polyatomic ions have to be grouped correctly. I always have one student writing the formula on a small white board. This person directs the group in their arrangement. I have to see the correct written formula and the correct cards to award the point. This gets loud and crazy, so get ready for some fun!
Concentration
Make a set of large 5 X 8 cards with 12 pairs of matching items (like element name/symbol) and write the clue on one side and a number (1-24) on the other. This is easy to prepare and can be used with many topics.
Card Sorts
This activity checks for understanding and can be used to introduce a unit, check understanding along the way or for reviewing. A set of cards contains words that relate to a topic such as acid/base or periodic table. Students sort these into groups.
Password
Password is a great review game to check for understanding. This game requires a ‘deck’ of cards with words on them relating to the topic. Students work in teams of two. One gives clues about the word and the other tries to guess the word. The teacher sets a timer and the team with the most correct answers during the time period is the winner. We have included word sets for several different topics such as periodic table, atomic structure, solutions and bonding. If you don't want to make card sets, an alternate technique would be to type the words on a single power point slide and have you class divide in two with half facing the screen and half not.
Horse Races
This is an all-time favorite for fun and reviewing. With very little effort on your part, you can have your class fighting to be in the winner's circle.
Alphabet Soup
Write a topic in the ellipse and have students brainstorm terms/concepts/examples that have to do with that topic that start with letters A - Z. After brainstorming for 5 minutes or so, have students get with a partner and share their brainstorming and why each item they chose is related to the topic. You can even to a class debrief having a variety of student contribute their suggestions for each letter and justify their choice. Emphasize what you want to as you work through the alphabet.
Silent Partners
This strategy comes from a session on reading sponsored by some textbook company at some NSTA meeting. It can be used several times during a school year and the materials are easy to prepare and can be used again and again. Basically, each student receives a card and their task is to find a partner they match without talking. It can be applied to a wide variety of topics and once the cards are made, you can use them year after year. Be sure that you make a card that lists all of your matches so you'll have a quick key and can remember what is in the set of cards.
Word Storm
Use this template and have groups of students brainstorm terms/concepts/examples related to a particular topic. The group score is based on the total number of syllables brainstormed in a given amount of time. Hopefully, students will be encouraged to think beyond the simplistic and strive for more depth and complexity.
Jeopardy Power Point Template
An old favorite but we have THE BEST template for Jeopardy ever, quick and easy to use. The trick with Jeopardy is how you play the game. All of our games involve getting everyone to participate. I set out bells on tables. The kids play in teams of four. They number off, one through four. The number one person comes to the table and we start with the first question. The first person to ring in gets to try to answer the question. If they are wrong, we go to the next person and keep going until the question is answered. Then the number two person from each team comes to the bell and we start over with a new question. This way every student is required to make an effort and one person is not dominating the game. This version is designed to force students to use what is on the TAKS formula chart.
Versatiles
A commercial product that is very versatile. Get it? These are sold mainly to elementary school teachers but when we saw them, we got excited about using them with high school kids. We have a versatile activity written for every TAKS objective and that is how we usually use them, but they are also nice to use at the end of a unit r for tutorials. These are a quick way to review a topic that might have been taught one or two years previously. You can purchase Versatile Answer Cases from www.etacuisinaire.com