Unit Plan Schedule

Day 1
1. Give "What is
Chemistry?" preassessment to gauge
general student
knowledge of key
chemistry topics and to
identify major student
questions about
chemistry.
2. Students will discuss
their pre-assessment
questions and
understandings with
each other in small
groups (3-4), then we
will discuss them as a
whole class. Introduce
the first essential
question for the year,
"What is chemistry?
What role does
chemistry/science play
in our daily lives and in
society?"

Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
3. Introduce second
7. Identifying the elements 10. Introduce third essential
essential question,
quiz reviewing "What is
question, "How can we
"How is science built
an Element?" lesson
use the periodic table to
from pieces of
material.
recognize organizing
knowledge? How does 8. Mini-lecture to
patterns in chemistry
the periodic show us
introduce metals,
and in nature?" again
how knowledge is
nonmetals, and
showing the empty
constructed?," read an
metalloids and brief
periodic table.
excerpt from Sam
overview of chemical
11. Mini-lecture about
Kean's "The
versus physical
periodic table groups
Disappearing Spoon",
properties.
and periods. Discuss
view an empty periodic 9. Use class time for
special groups (Alkali
table with no elements
students to choose an
Metals, Alkaline Earth
on it.
element, watch periodic
Metals, Halogens,
4. Introduce the "Periodic
table video, read
Noble Gases, etc.).
Table Quilt Piece" final
element short stories in 12. Provide class time for
performance task along
class.
students to work on
with fourth essential
their Periodic Table
question, "How can we
Quilt Patch and help for
us the periodic table as a
those students that need
tool to understand
assistance with writing
chemistry?"
mini-biography.
5. Present "What is an
Writing can be in form
Element?" lesson
of students choosing
covering key definitions
including bullet points,
including electrons,
paragraph, or poem.
protons, neutrons,
Students will finish
atomic number, and
their patches for
mass number
homework
6. Explain how to read an
element on the periodic
table. Provide practice
worksheet for students
(not graded).

Day 5
13. Remind students of
second, third, and
fourth essential
questions while they
organize in groups
based on their chosen
element's group.
14. In their small groups,
students will discuss
similarities in their
element's histories,
physical properties,
chemical properties,
and reactivity. They
will generate a brief
list to share with the
rest of the class of
common properties of
their group.
15. Students will present
their lists to the class
16. As a class we will
close the unit by
reviewing the common
properties we have
seen and discuss how
we can use the periodic
as a tool to understand
chemical trends and
properties (addressing
the standard) and to
also understand
patterns in scientific
discovery and building
of knowledge
(addressing a central
theme for the year).