Students Show Understanding Through an Electron Configuration Game

They told you teaching electron configuration couldn't be fun? Reaaaallly?

Sorry, honey. Some unimaginative person lied to you.

Not all learning is fun, but I believe you can have fun learning days along with get down to business days.

Through this electron configuration game, your students can demonstrate electron configuration mastery on individual topics.

Look below for 3 ways students show understanding through this game.

Students Show They Can Read the Quantum Periodic Table

When students are first learning electron configuration, they get confused on the direction to read the periodic table. This game reinforces the correct reading direction by using the periodic table as a game board with a clear start and finish.

As students roll the dice (or use Google’s random number generator, if you chose to use the no prep version) they get lots of practice reading the periodic table the right way and watching other teammates read it the right way.

Using a game gives students many opportunities to make sure everyone knows how to read the periodic table from left to right.

Students Show They Understand Filled and Unfilled Subshells

This is made super clear in the game through the use of flags. Each flag is called a checkpoint. Students write down all the checkpoints they pass because they represent filled subshells. The last part students write down is the final electron configuration they land on.

So the students proceed like this: Flag(filled subshell), Flag(filled subshell), Flag(filled subshell), space landed(unfilled subshell).

By using a racecar analogy, it helps students not get hung up on what to write down. As they progress through the game they will show that they understand filled subshells through writing down the checkpoints.

Students show they understand unfilled subshells through their final landing space when they write the complete electron configuration.

Students Show They Can Write a Correct Electron Configuration

This game gives students a fun and interactive way to practice writing electron configurations. Depending on how high you set the number for students to roll (or use the random number generator) each student will get around 10-15 practices for writing electron configurations.(Hint: Set the number generator to 7-9 for fewer practice rounds, or lower to 3-6 for more practice rounds.)

So if you have a group of 4 students, that is 40+ chances for them to correct each other.

Plus, if you offer a prize for the most accurate set of electron configurations, it’s an extra incentive for students to get it right and not rush through it.

Electron Configuration Made Fun

Are you ready to play? Your students are! Now, go follow this link and get ready to save time and find your job of teaching electron configurations easier.

With this game, and your stellar explanations, your class is going to be the talk of the science hall tomorrow.