Many examples of classification of animals, comparing common name to scientific name.

Song to tune of popular pop song. Song lyrics about group 1 alkali metals (lithium, sodium and potassium), their reaction with water, and their reactivity trend.

Cards to be printed. Does atom/ion symbol match the atom/ion diagram? (all diagrams are ‘accurate’, so pupils decide if symbol (mass, proton, overall charge) is correct. I suggest you play this as rounds in pairs with monopoly money.

Print element cards (4 per A4 page) Supply pupils with most element cards, except Te, I, Ge and Ga. Pupils must construct groups 1-8 (1-zero) of periodic table on their desk. Gap cards supplied with ‘?’ and group chemical properties. Answer cards for gaps to be printed separately by teacher and supplied to pupils who successfully construct groups showing gaps mendeleev left. (In reality, Mendeleev only left gapd for Ge and Ga and not for I and Te. However, the I-Te swtich is an important teaching point. Monitor whether pupils put Te first or I first, based on either atomic mass or proton number. Then teach about Mendeleev changing order)