10 Cool Ways to Study the Periodic Table in Homeschool

I remember in school having to memorize sections of the periodic table.  I remember thinking how boring it was. I also remember that I would memorize what I needed to know for the test, but would forget most of it, if not all of it, after the test was over. 

As you know Young Man has one of those minds that loves to absorb facts. He digests information like most women digest chocolate, with much passion. Over the years I’ve watched as he applies his mind to study of various things and been amazed because he will recall those bits of information years later at seemingly random times. That’s how I know he’s fully applied his mind to learning and not simply memorize for a temporal purpose. 

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The periodic table is designed to be a concise way of disseminating information in a very organized way. For my son, he’s taken to it like a duck takes to water. Still, it takes time to learn anything, especially something that has so much information contained in it. He being fascinated by it has made it easier, to be sure, but I still have to present the information to him in a way that isn’t mundane and boring.

10 Ideas for Studying the Periodic Table in Homeschool

1. A Beginners Guide to the Atoms of the Periodic Table 

This printable guide helps moms to teach the periodic table in their homeschools. 

2. Atomidoodle an educational game app available from Hero Factor Games 

Who doesn’t love a good app game? Kids especially love games that challenge them, while moms love that they are learning. This Atomidoodle app does just that, helps children to learn how atoms work together. 

• Available for iPad at the iTunes Store for $1.99
• Available for Color Tiles Periodic Table Set on Google Play for $2

3. Peel & Play Periodic Table from Educents

A simple concept… peel, and play… but it’s far more than play when your student begins to have an understanding of how these table categorizes big concepts into easy to understand bite-sized bits of information.

4. A Visual Exploration using mnemonics with videos from Memorize the Periodic Table 

When I first learned of the Memorize the Periodic Table I was instantly intrigued. Because they utilize mnemonics I knew that the videos would serve as an excellent resource for our homeschool science endeavors. I often use word association to remember things. I do this when I meet someone new. I do a quick name association in my head. I think of another person with the same name and then when I encounter that person again I am able to remember their name because I think of the other person I know with the same name. 

5. Color Tiles Periodic Table Set available on Amazon

6. Elements: A Visual Exploration of Every Known Atom a book by Theodore Gray

My son absolutely loves this book. The vibrant images on each page coupled with information about each element in easy to understand bits of information can lead to a desire to learn even more.

7. Photographic Card Deck of The Elements by Theodore Gray

This deck of cards is perfect for smart kids who love all things periodic table. Think of them like collectibles and let your kids explore  fun facts about the elements. 

8. Build their own wall display of the periodic table using Post-It Notes
Hand your child a stack of sticky notes, all the same size but a variety of colors similar to those found on a standard periodic table. Tell them to build a wall display. My Young Man wrote in the atomic number, the symbol and the name of each element.

9. Molecular Model Kit

Take learning about the periodic table a step further and see what happens when those elements join together to form compounds.

10. Thames & Kosmos Dangerous Book for Boys Classic Chemistry Science Kit 

Of course letting kids mix, and stir, and develop elements into chemical compounds is FUN! Let your kids learn in a hands-on way using this classic chemistry kit. 

Science can be fun when we step outside the books and consider other ways for a child to learn. {Tweet That} Whether through games, or puzzles, sticky notes or experiment kits, let your kids learn in a way that inspires them. These are just 10 cool ideas. What ideas do you have? Tell me about them in comments.

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