Element Tile Coloring Activity
STAAR Reference Series • Middle School Science
Periodic Table Tile Explorer
Classify elements by electron structure, chemical families, valence rings, and periodic trends
Name:
Date:
Period:
Score: / 50
Master Color Legend & Tool Palette
Required: 10 Colored Pencils or Highlighters
Red: Alkali (Grp 1)
Orange: Alk. Earth (2)
Yellow: Transition (3-12)
Emerald: Metalloids
Cyan: Nonmetals
Teal: Halogens (Grp 17)
Purple: Noble Gas (18)
Blue: Post-Transition
Pink: Lanthanides
Gray: Actinides
Periodic Table Workspace Canvas (Color tiles according to Tasks on Pages 2 & 3) Heavy black step = Staircase Line
P\G
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
1
1HHydr
2HeHeli
2
3LiLith
4BeBery
5BBoro
6CCarb
7NNitr
8OOxyg
9FFluo
10NeNeon
3
11NaSodi
12MgMagn
13AlAlum
14SiSili
15PPhos
16SSulf
17ClChlo
18ArArgo
4
19KPota
20CaCalc
21ScScan
22TiTita
23VVana
24CrChro
25MnMang
26FeIron
27CoCoba
28NiNick
29CuCopp
30ZnZinc
31GaGall
32GeGerm
33AsArse
34SeSele
35BrBrom
36KrKryp
5
37RbRubi
38SrStro
39YYttr
40ZrZirc
41NbNiob
42MoMoly
43TcTech
44RuRuth
45RhRhod
46PdPall
47AgSilv
48CdCadm
49InIndi
50SnTin
51SbAnti
52TeTell
53IIodi
54XeXeno
6
55CsCesi
56BaBari
57-71La-Lu*
72HfHafn
73TaTant
74WTung
75ReRhen
76OsOsmi
77IrIrid
78PtPlat
79AuGold
80HgMerc
81TlThal
82PbLead
83BiBism
84PoPolo
85AtAsta
86RnRado
7
87FrFran
88RaRadi
89-103Ac-Lr**
104RfRuth
105DbDubn
106SgSeab
107BhBohr
108HsHass
109MtMeit
110DsDarm
111RgRoen
112CnCope
113NhNiho
114FlFler
115McMosc
116LvLive
117TsTenn
118OgOgan
* Lanthanides:
57La
58Ce
59Pr
60Nd
61Pm
62Sm
63Eu
64Gd
65Tb
66Dy
67Ho
68Er
69Tm
70Yb
71Lu
** Actinides:
89Ac
90Th
91Pa
92U
93Np
94Pu
95Am
96Cm
97Bk
98Cf
99Es
100Fm
101Md
102No
103Lr
Periods = Electron Rings
The Period number (1–7) equals the exact number of electron energy levels (shells) occupied by electrons in ground state.
Groups = Valence Electrons
For main groups: Grp 1 = 1 valence e⁻; Grp 2 = 2; Grp 13 = 3; Grp 14 = 4; Grp 15 = 5; Grp 16 = 6; Grp 17 = 7; Grp 18 = 8 (He = 2).
Reactivity & Chemical Families
Elements in the same vertical group share identical valence electrons, giving them similar chemical properties and reactivity.
Texas STAAR Middle School Science Reference Standard • Element Explorer Part 1 Turn to Page 2 for Tasks 1–22 →
Part 1 & Part 2 Missions
Coloring Tasks: Families & Valence Electrons
Tasks 1 to 22 of 44 Completed: [ / 22 ]
Execution Directive: Read each mission carefully. Use the assigned color to lightly shade or decorate the specified tiles on your Page 1 workspace table. Check off each box [✓] as you execute the coloring command.
Category A
Chemical Families & Groups
Color all Alkali Metals (Group 1: Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, Fr; exclude H) RED. These are the softest, most violent reactive metals!
Color all Alkaline Earth Metals (Group 2: Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Ra) ORANGE. They form +2 cations and burn brightly.
Color all central Transition Metals (Groups 3–12, Periods 4–7) YELLOW. These include conductors like Fe, Cu, Ag, and Au.
Color the Halogens (Group 17: F, Cl, Br, I, At) TEAL. These reactive "salt-formers" need only 1 more valence electron.
Color the Noble Gases (Group 18: He, Ne, Ar, Kr, Xe, Rn) PURPLE. They are completely unreactive (inert) gases!
Color Post-Transition Metals (Al, Ga, In, Sn, Tl, Pb, Bi) LIGHT BLUE. These ductile metals lie right under the staircase.
Color the Lanthanide Series banner and tiles (elements 57–71) PINK. Known as rare-earth luster metals.
Color the Actinide Series banner and tiles (elements 89–103) GRAY. All are radioactive heavy elements (U, Pu).
Color the 6 Core Metalloids (B, Si, Ge, As, Sb, Te) EMERALD GREEN. These "semiconductors" touch the staircase!
Color remaining Reactive Nonmetals (C, N, O, P, S, Se, and H) CYAN. These are essential organic insulators.
Trace the Amphoteric Staircase Line (border between B/Al, Al/Si, Si/Ge, Ge/As, As/Sb, Sb/Te, Te/Po) in DARK BLACK INK.
Category B
Valence Electrons & Outer Shells
Write a small "1v" in pencil in the top-right corner of every Group 1 tile (H, Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, Fr). They have 1 outer valence electron.
Write a small "2v" in the top-right corner of every Group 2 tile (Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Ra). They all have 2 valence electrons.
Write a small "3v" in the top-right corner of Group 13 tiles (B, Al, Ga, In, Tl). Middle school rule: Group 13 minus 10 = 3 valence electrons.
Write a small "4v" in the top-right corner of Group 14 tiles (C, Si, Ge, Sn, Pb). They have 4 valence electrons and form 4 bonds.
Write a small "5v" in the top-right corner of Group 15 tiles (N, P, As, Sb, Bi). Group 15 elements contain 5 valence electrons.
Write a small "6v" in the top-right corner of Group 16 tiles (O, S, Se, Te, Po). Group 16 chalcogens have 6 valence electrons.
Write a small "7v" in the top-right corner of Group 17 tiles (F, Cl, Br, I, At). Halogens contain 7 valence electrons.
Write "8v (Octet)" in the top-right corner of Ne, Ar, Kr, Xe, Rn. Their outer shells are completely full and stable.
Draw a special gold/yellow halo ring around Helium (He) and write "2v". He is in Group 18 but has only 2 valence electrons (full 1st shell)!
Draw a flame symbol next to Sodium (Na) and Potassium (K) to signal extreme reactivity with water due to their single valence electron!
Draw a lock symbol next to Argon (Ar) and Neon (Ne) because an 8-electron octet locks out chemical bonding.
Midpoint Self-Check: All 18 columns should now be shaded according to their chemical family, and groups 1–2 and 13–18 should display their valence electron counts!
Page 2 of 3
Periodic Table Tile Explorer • Middle School Science Turn to Page 3 for Tasks 23–44 & Analysis →
Part 3, Part 4 & Synthesis
Shells, Trends & Element Mysteries
Tasks 23 to 44 of 44 Completed: [ / 22 ]
Category C
Electron Rings & Period Identity
Write "1 Ring" in left margin next to Period 1 (H, He have only energy level 1).
Write "2 Rings" next to Period 2 (Li through Ne have 2 energy levels).
Write "3 Rings" next to Period 3 (Na through Ar occupy 3 shells).
Write "4 Rings" next to Period 4 (K through Kr occupy 4 shells).
Write "5, 6, 7 Rings" next to Periods 5, 6, and 7 on the workspace table.
Draw a small circle inside Hydrogen (H): 1 proton, 1 electron, 1 ring.
Find element with 2 rings & 4 valence e⁻ (Carbon, C). Draw a bold diamond around symbol!
Find element with 3 rings & 7 valence e⁻ (Chlorine, Cl). Underline name twice.
Find element with 3 rings & 2 valence e⁻ (Magnesium, Mg). Draw square around atomic number.
Find element with 2 rings & 6 valence e⁻ (Oxygen, O). Shade a tiny heart above symbol.
Find element with 4 rings & 1 valence e⁻ (Potassium, K). Highlight border in red.
Category D
Trends, States & Mystery Clues
Draw a droplet on the 2 room-temperature liquids: Mercury (Hg, 80) and Bromine (Br, 35).
Draw a cloud on the 11 room-temperature gases (H, He, N, O, F, Ne, Cl, Ar, Kr, Xe, Rn).
Draw a big star ★ on Francium (Fr, 87): The MOST reactive metal!
Draw a lightning bolt ⚡ on Fluorine (F, 9): The MOST reactive nonmetal!
Draw an arrow pointing DOWN Group 1 labeled: "Metal Reactivity Increases ↓".
Draw an arrow pointing UP Group 17 labeled: "Nonmetal Reactivity Increases ↑".
Atomic Radius: Big circle at bottom-left (Fr), tiny dot at top-right (He) to show radius trend!
Mystery Clue 1: Metalloid in Period 3 used in computer microchips (Silicon, Si). Box tile.
Mystery Clue 2: Alkaline earth metal in Period 4 for bones & teeth (Calcium, Ca). Star it.
Mystery Clue 3: Transition metal with atomic number 26 that rusts (Iron, Fe). Circle it.
Mystery Clue 4: Halogen in Period 5 used as medical antiseptic (Iodine, I). Shade purple.
Section B: Periodic Analysis & Concept Synthesis
Answer in complete scientific sentences
1. Why do Sodium (Na) and Potassium (K) share nearly identical chemical reactivity and properties?
2. Explain the structural relationship between an element's Period Number and its Bohr model electron rings:
3. Why is Argon (Ar) classified as a chemically inert gas while Chlorine (Cl) right next to it is dangerously reactive?
4. Where are metalloids located on the table, and how do their electrical properties compare to metals and nonmetals?
All 44 tasks executed
10-color legend followed
Valence labels (1v–8v)
Synthesis Qs 1–4 answered
Periodic Table Tile Explorer • Middle School Science STAAR TEKS 8.5B & 8.5C Mastery • Page 3 of 3
