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Need an idea for teaching the Periodic Table of Elements to Kids? You are in the right place. I am so glad you stopped by! You will love this periodic table battleship game.
I have posted a lot about Chemistry for Kids lately. My oldest has been studying it and really enjoying it. I love his science-y mind!
Think the periodic table is not for kids? Think again. Why not start them young?!
Today I have a really fun & simple chemistry game to share. We played a game called Periodic Table Battleship! This game is so much fun! I think that you will love it, too.
(Also: see 200+ more STEM projects for kids)
The game can be played even by kids who know nothing about the Periodic Table Yet. My 8-year-old daughter has not studied any chemistry yet, but really enjoyed this one.
Kids will be learning chemistry in such a fun way without even realizing it! You’ll love hearing them call out the names of different elements and getting familiar with the structure of the periodic table. You can make your own version of the game and I will show you how!
About the Periodic Table:
The periodic table was first started by a Russian chemist named Dimitri Mendeleev started the development of the periodic table, arranging chemical elements by atomic mass.
If you subscribe today, you can get access to it this game for free! Or. . . Buy it already made in my Etsy shop!
How to Make the Periodic Table Game:
To make the Periodic Table Battleship game, print out 4 copies of the Periodic Table.
- 4 laminated copies of the Periodic Table The ones pictured are from Science Notes Science Notes.
- 2 File Folders
- 1 Giant Paper Clip
- 2 Dry Erase Markers
Along the left side of the table, I labeled the rows alphabetically. (**This is optional but helps younger kids who are uncomfortable pronouncing the names of the elements yet.) They already have row numbers along the top. Laminating makes it re-usable!
I used two file folders and hooked them together at the top with a giant paper clip. Attach two of the periodic tables in with that paper clip as well. Then lay the other two periodic tables down on the table in the folder. If you want it to be more permanent you can glue them on or attach with double sided tape.
Mark with dry erase markers where you want to place your ships by circling rows of 2, 3, 4, and 5 elements on the lower table. (You can pick how many of each.)
Make it a bit more complicated by requiring them to have a ship in each of the sections: alkali metals, transition metals, noble gases, halogens, etc.
You play by calling out coordinates, atomic numbers, atomic symbols, or element names. If you miss you put an X on the spot you chose on the upper table.
If you get a hit, then circle it. You can continue playing until one person sinks all of another person’s ships. You sink a ship by hitting all the spots in a row the other person circled.
You can begin to get them familiar with the various parts of the table, the properties of the elements, how the elements are arranged, the atomic weight, the element symbols, the number of protons, the number of electrons, their atomic mass, and the order of their atomic number, etc.
More About the Periodic Table
The periodic table was first started by a Russian chemist named Dmitri Mendeleev in 1869. He began organizing the elements by atomic mass leaving space for elements yet discovered. And they still are being discovered! In December of 2016, new elements were added: elements 113, 115, 117, and 118.
- Nihonium (Nh), is element 113
- Moscovium (Mc), is element 115
- Tennessine (Ts), is element 117
- Oganesson (Og), is element 118
The table is organized by atomic number, from the element with the lowest atomic number at the far left, hydrogen, to the element with the highest atomic number, oganesson at the far right. Each element is given an atomic number. Atomic numbers are the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom of that element.
Are you more of a visual person? Want to see the game in action? Watch a video of how we play below.
Want a FREE printable copy of this game? Subscribe to my email list now for this free gift!
See the periodic table game in action! Watch my kids playing the Periodic Table Battleship Game.
Don’t want to make it? I’ve got you covered. You can buy a physical copy of the game in my Etsy Store for $15.
I also made some Chemical Compound Flash Cards you can purchase in my shop!
Find more Science ideas in my STEAM Kids book!