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Science Sampler: The Octet Rules-- A dating game for atoms


By: Jennifer Welborn
$0.00 - Member Price  
$0.99 - Nonmember Price

Details

Type of Product:Journal Article
Average Rating:
 based on 7 reviews
Publication Title:Science Scope
Publication Date:5/1/2004
Pages:4
Grade Level:Middle School


Description

To develop student interest in the periodic table, try incorporating this simple, but fun, role-playing activity that follows a game-show format into your science curriculum. This play is used after students have learned the basic structure of atoms and the general layout of the periodic table. It also comes after students have learned the basics of ionic and covalent bonding. The entire script is included.


Ideas For Use

At the end of the play, students are asked to write a paragraph explaining which atoms in which family would be suitable to form an ionic bond with calcium in a 1:1 ratio and why, which would be suitable in a 1:2 ratio and why, etc. Finally, they are asked to name one or two other atoms that could be on the show and would not be interested in bonding with calcium at all. A challenge option is for students to research the formulas and uses of the ionic compounds that could be formed depending on calcium's choice of atom.

Additional Info

Science Discipline: (mouse over for full classification)
Atoms
Chemical formulas
Compounds
Covalent bonds
Electron configuration
Hydrogen bonds
Ionic bonds
Periodic table
Intended User Role:Curriculum Supervisor, Middle-Level Educator, Teacher
Educational Issues:Achievement, Classroom management, Curriculum, Educational research, Inquiry learning, Instructional materials, Teacher preparation, Teaching strategies

Technical

Resource Format:application/pdf
Size:629 KB
Requirements:Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader


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National Standards Correlation

This resource has 6 correlations with the National Standards.  
[VIEW CORRELATIONS]

This resource has 6 correlations with the National Standards.  
[HIDE CORRELATIONS]

  • Physical Science
    • Structure and properties of matter
      • Atoms interact with one another by transferring or sharing electrons that are furthest from the nucleus. (9-12)
      • Outer shell electrons govern the chemical properties of the element. (9-12)
      • The "Periodic Table" is a consequence of the repeating pattern of outermost electrons and their permitted energies. (9-12)
      • Bonds between atoms are created when electrons are paired up by being transferred or shared. (9-12)
      • Atoms may be bonded together into molecules or crystalline solids. (9-12)
      • A compound is formed when two or more kinds of atoms bind together chemically. (9-12)


Customer Reviews
My Name is Bond, Chemical Bonding
  Reviewed by: Betty Paulsell (Kansas City, MO) on May 17, 2013
  This article has a really neat game show about chemical bonding that students can act out. It is based on the old television show, The Dating Game. It has an excellent written script and assessment questions afterwards.

Ionic Bonding Rules
  Reviewed by: Adah (San Antonio, TX) on March 23, 2012
  This article is actually a role playing activity that students can perform to understand the rules for filling the outer electron shell with valence electrons so that atoms can form ionic bonds. While the players are reading their part the rest of the class follows along. At the culmination of the play all students are asked to write a paragraph to explain which atoms would be suitable to form an ionic bond with another atom. This is a cute approach to bonding.

The Octet Rules-A Dating Game for Atoms
  Reviewed by: Sue Garcia on July 18, 2011
  Middle school teachers,especially 8th grade, will love this activity. Using a role-play script (provided by the author), students act out a short 15 minute "play". Extensions are added in the article to allow more student participation. At the end of the play, students are asked to answer questions and write a refection. Although this play is written for students

The Periodic Dating Game
  Reviewed by: Pamela on June 14, 2011
  A very creative approach to electronic structure and bonding that would be particularly useful to kinesthetic learners

The Octet Rules! Review
  Reviewed by: Bambi Bailey (Tyler, TX) on February 17, 2011
  I was particularly impressed with the description of the role playing activity Octet Rules! which is based upon the old show The Dating Game because the author specifically describes not only the activity but how discussions about stereotyping, particularly gender stereotyping, must be addressed by the teacher who chooses to use the activity. Octet Rules is a short play that describes how atoms interact. It is short and clearly emphasizes the octet rule in atomic structure.

Octet Rules Reader Theater
  Reviewed by: Alyce Dalzell (Peyton, CO) on January 5, 2011
  Short reader's theater that could be performed in a middle school classroom. I am drawn to activitities that weave content areas. In this case physical science and reading aloud. My students enjoyed the activity, and made 3 corner paper hats, decorated with their role. Drawbacks on this activity is the limited amount of student parts and even though this is geard for MS, the length is very short.

An Engaging Way to Teach about the Octet Rule
  Reviewed by: Ruth Hutson (Westmoreland, KS) on December 6, 2010
  I just used the Octet Rules Dating Game in my chemistry class last week. My students really enjoy reading the script. It was an engaging way to introduce the octet rule. The skit got my students thinking and it led to a lot of discussion about how ions react with each other

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