A Periodic Law Activity for HS-PS1-1 | A Student-Centered Approach to the Periodic Table

If your inquiry-based lessons haven’t worked as well as you hoped, the sequence of your unit might be the culprit! In this video, I’m sharing my Periodic Law activity—but with a twist. Instead of introducing the concept early, I place it at the end of my unit on periodic trends, allowing students to uncover the patterns of elements through a discovery-based approach.

As a high school chemistry lesson, it is aligned to NGSS HS-PS1-1: Using the periodic table as a model to predict the relative properties of elements based on patterns of electrons in the outermost energy level of atoms. It incorporates the NGSS science and engineering practices—observation, questioning, evaluating evidence, and arguing from data—so students engage with the periodic table as a powerful model (as the 3-dimensional standards intended) instead of requiring students to passively memorize trends.
📌 What you’ll learn in this video:

✅ Why lesson sequencing is crucial to the effectiveness of inquiry-based science curricula
✅ How students can use prior knowledge to drive discovery
✅ A structured periodic law activity that fosters deep understanding
✅ How this approach supports supports all 3 dimensions of NGSS-aligned instruction
🔬 What Makes This Lesson Stand Out?

📊 Student-Driven Discovery
Instead of frontloading information, this Periodic Law activity puts students in the driver’s seat. They analyze patterns, draw conclusions, and articulate their findings—all through an inquiry-based approach that can be applied in any science classroom.

📈 The Power of Sequencing
Lesson order matters! Instead of introducing Periodic Law early, this lesson positions it at the end of a unit, allowing students to build a foundation in patterns, structure, and models before uncovering the unifying concept. This sequencing strategy strengthens retention and can be adapted to any subject where patterns and models are key (think genetics, forces, ecosystems, and beyond!).

🔍 Using Models to Predict & Explain
Aligned with HS-PS1-1, this lesson challenges students to use models to make predictions—a core scientific practice that applies to all disciplines. Whether it’s the periodic table, food webs, Newton’s laws, or climate models, teaching students how to extract meaning from data empowers them across all sciences.

🧠 A Framework for Deep Understanding
This activity taps into essential science and engineering practices, including obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information—skills that transcend chemistry and strengthen critical thinking in any inquiry-based classroom.

✨ Transform the Way You Teach Scientific Thinking!
Break free from lecture-based instruction and give your students a data-driven, discovery-focused learning experience—whether you teach chemistry, physics, biology, or Earth science!
00:43 The Periodic Patterns & Electrons (HS-PS1-1) Unit Plan
02:09 NGSS HS-PS1-1 Details
03:46 How This Lesson and Periodic Law Activity Align to HS-PS1-1
05:45 A 5-Part Framework For Success With Inquiry-Based Science Lessons
08:45 Review & Preview Bellringer, Predicting Ion Charges
15:32 Lesson Objectives as Learning Intentions & Success Criteria
20:10 Inquiry-Based Periodic Law Activity & Artifact Outline
26:23 Data-Dependent Analysis: Students Uncover & Define the Periodic Law
29:28 Skill Practice & Digital Delivery

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🎯 Ready to Take Action?

💻 Check out the videos I use for the macroscopic observation portion of this periodic law activity:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZY6d6jrq-0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2ogMUDBaf4

💻 Purchase the complete lesson package containing this Inquiry-Based Periodic Law Activity aligned to HS-PS1-1:
https://bit.ly/41q69eW

💻 Download my “Atom & Its Electrons” Unit Spreadsheet for a list of related lessons (and an NGSS-alignment to HS-PS1-1 analysis of them) mentioned in this video:
https://labineverylesson.com/electrons

💻 Start your trek from talk to tech with my EdTech Essentials guide to active learning in science: https://labineverylesson.com/essentials

▶️ ALL VIDEOS REFERENCED ARE IN THIS PLAYLIST, WATCH IT NEXT:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8bTDjQcX_zj46RFp7Qx9KtyJjm433eyq
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:

💥 The Active Learning Action Plan: https://labineverylesson.com/activeplan

💥 The Digital Instructional Design Studio: https://labineverylesson.com/studio

💥 Done-For-You micro2MACRO Chemistry Curriculum: https://labineverylesson.com/5-free-chem-lessons/

💥 My TpT Store: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Lab-In-Every-Lesson#

CONTACT ME by email at lisa@labineverylesson.com!

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