Teacher: Rachel Valiquette Date: February 15th, 2017

School: Conrad Ball Middle School Grade Level: 6th grade Content Area: Chemistry
Title: Color By Valence Electron Lesson #: 7 of

Content Standard(s) addressed by this lesson: (Write Content Standards directly from the standard)
PS1-1: Develop models to describe the atomic composition of simple molecules and extended structures.
This is an ongoing standard for the entire atoms unit.

Understandings: (Big Ideas)

1. Students will develop their understanding of the definition of valence electrons and how to solve for the number
of valence electrons for each element.
2. Students will illustrate their understanding of valence electrons.
3. Students will demonstrate their ability to construct an atom using their prior knowledge of protons, neutrons, and
electrons.

Inquiry Questions: (Essential questions relating knowledge at end of the unit of instruction, select applicable
questions from standard)
1. What are elements composed of?
2. What is the difference between electrons and valence electrons?
3. How do you find the number of valence electrons for an element?

Evidence Outcomes: (Learning Targets)

Every student will be able to: Complete a coloring assessment using their prior knowledge of elements on the
periodic table and the number of valence electrons each element has.
This means I can: Use my prior knowledge of how to solve for the number of valence electrons an element has to
complete the color by valence electron activity.
 Planned Lesson Activities
Name and Color by Valence Electron
Purpose of
Lesson The purpose of this lesson is for students to comprehend the connection between the column
number and the number of valence electrons an element has. Students have previously taken
notes on the periodic table and bohr models and this lesson is designed to connect the two ideas.
This activity is created to build on students understanding of valence electrons and bohr models
before moving into bonding.

Approx. Time Materials: Students individual iPads, pencil for writing, colored pencils, color by valence electron
and Materials activity sheet

Approximate time:
0-5 minutes: Do Now

Anticipatory The students have a routine that they are used to. I like to keep the consistency each morning
Set when starting class so that students are always prepared and begin the day working. There will
be a Do Now activity for them to complete posted through the projector. This activity reviews the
material for the previous lesson in order for the students to remember what they learned and to
make connections to what they will be learning in todays lesson. I like to make the Do Now on
the easier side because I believe that if the students start the day with a correct response, they
will be more receptive to learning about new topics and continuing their academic growth. For
this Do Now, I will have students answer the question: What is a valence electron? How do you
find the number of valence electrons from an element? I chose this question because it connects
to the students prior knowledge of how to find valence electrons using a bohr model. They will
complete this task in their Do Now folder on their iPads. If a student does not have their iPad
present in class that day, they are given the option to complete the Do Now on paper.

Procedures Teacher Actions Student Actions

0-5 minutes: Do Now 0-5 minutes: Students will be

During the first 5 minutes of class I will have the students expected to have their iPads
complete a Do Now activity that they are used to seeing in charged and ready to use in class
their everyday practice. This Do Now question will involve in order to complete the Do Now
students answering the question, What is a valence activity. If students are not
electron? How do you find the number of valence electrons prepared with their iPads, they
from an element? The Do Now will be displayed on the are expected to problem solve
projector and will also be available in a folder that students and complete the Do Now on
can locate on their iPads. After I have assessed that the pencil and paper.
students have completed the Do Now, I will ask some of
the students to share out their answers and we will have an
open discussion about them as a class. I like to give the
students an opportunity to jot down thoughts that they have
in regards to the prompt and then see them make those
clarifying connections when we hold the class discussion.
Check for understanding - Ask some of the students to share
their answers for the Do Now question on molecules.
(Intrapersonal, interpersonal, verbal/linguistic, visual/spatial)
 5-8 minutes: Agenda, Standard, and Learning Target 5-8 minutes: The students are
I will explain to the students the agenda for the day. The expected to listen quietly with
agenda will be as follows: talk about the goals for the class their iPads closed and locked.
period, the expectations for where I expect them to be at the
end of the class period in regards to understanding and
assignment progress.

8-54 minutes: Color by Valence Electron

I have created a variety of levels for the color by valence
electron assignment. The levels range on how difficult it is to
distinguish between the elements and their number of
valence electrons to the number of squares that need to be
colored in during the activity. This activity resembles a color
by number in which there are 8 numbers that correspond to
the number of valence electrons each element has. For
example, if the number 2 corresponded to the color purple,
each element that has 2 valence electrons that was on the
coloring sheet would be colored in purple. The students also
have the option to complete the color by valence electron on
paper or on their ipads.

Differentiation Do Now: During the Do Now, students are allowed to use their notes to answer the prompt.
There are several modes of accessing the daily prompt, such as it is projected on the screen as
well as accessible through their iPads. The students are also encouraged to answer the prompt
using whatever creative outlet they choose.

Color by Valence Electron: During the activity there are different levels of understanding that
students can choose to complete. Each student is given the opportunity to test their
understanding at any level they see fit and are encouraged to move up a level if the assignment
is too simple, or to move down a level if they feel they are struggling.

Assessment Do Now: The Do Now is a basic post-lesson assessment that students complete each morning
to help their understanding of prior knowledge and how they can connect that knowledge to the
day's lesson.

Check for Understanding: X4 throughout the lesson for basic understanding on how to guide
students for their best learning

Color by Valence Electron: The students will complete the assessment in order to make sure they
understand the concept of valence electrons and their connection to the column number on the
periodic table.