Hobbies And Interests
Flash Cards
Write the symbol of the element on one side and the name and properties on the other. Switch between having to recite the element's name and properties and the symbol. Teachers or parents can use flash cards to help students learn the elements. For example, a teacher may stand outside the classroom with a line of students. The students must correctly name the element associated with the symbol before entering the classroom. Parents may make their child review properties of the elements before having dinner.
Mnemonics
Create a sentence to associate the element with the symbol. Gold for instance, could be "Hey you! Give me back that gold necklace!" With the "hey you" sounding like "A" and "U". Make a list of these mnemonic devices and try to recite them on a daily basis.
Acrostic mnemonics
Like the mnemonics mentioned in the previous section, these are sentences with the added benefit of acrostics. The acrostics will help students learn the elements in their groups or vertical rows. Create a rhyme or memorable sentence using the first letters of the symbols in each group. For example, group one on the periodic table consists of: Hydrogen, Lithium, Natrium, Kalium, Rubidium, Caesium and Francium. Use the letters H, L, N, K, R, C and F for the beginning letters in your words. Create a rhyme for every group.
Element Bingo
Create bingo cards using the element symbols. The host will call out an element's name or number and the student must choose the correct symbol. For a more difficult version, the host can call out the element categories such as alkali metals or noble gases or the state of the element such as gas or liquid.