These lessons introduce the periodic table and bonding. It starts with a demonstration with plastic grocery bag strips attracting and repelling each other. Why does this happen? This is an introduction to protons (positive charge), electrons (negative charge), and neutrons (neutral of charge). This demonstration is similar to a sample HSE problem that has shown up on some of the readiness tests.

The next lesson introduces the periodic table with a card game. If the periodic table is new to you as a teacher, the video that introduces the lesson is a nice primer. Covalent and ionic bonding is also included in later lessons, but it may not be worth spending a lot of time on the distinction. I would recommend skipping the Lewis dot models. Students don’t need to know this for the HSE exam.

Each section includes a full lesson plan, activity sheets, answers to activity sheets, background material for teachers in the form of readings and introductory videos, student readings and videos. Some of the videos introduce the material to teachers so they understand the science and the purpose of the lesson. Other videos help students understand the material. Demonstrations are mostly done with common materials you can buy at a supermarket. Highly recommended.

The full 740-page Middle School Chemistry curriculum is available for download.