As you begin to think about your classroom setup for the fall, you realize that some of your decor is out of date and you’ve been thinking about periodic table decoration. It’s looking a little shabby, and it seems to blend in with the walls. Time for something new. This fall, you can use inspirational banners that use blocks from the periodic table.
Decorate with the periodic table
In the earliest portion of the fall, the students in your chemistry class may not know what an element is. They may not know much about the periodic table – or they have forgotten whatever they learned in middle school science.
The symbols on the table can be used to spell out words. Not every word can be spelled with element symbols, but quite a few can be. You can certainly spell out ‘teach’ and ‘success’, and ‘inspire’ with the element symbols.
If you’re reading this and thinking, “I want an engaging classroom, but I have no clue where to start,” I’ve got your back. My free Engaged Chemistry Classroom Blueprint lays out the high-impact shifts that make student engagement feel doable, even when you’re exhausted.
Spell out words with chemical symbols
If you find words you can spell with the periodic table, you can then make them into a banner to string across your bulletin board. I use www.chemspeller.com to figure out how to spell things with the periodic table. This site uses a few symbols from physics thrown in, such the electron (e-), the gluon (g) and the lepton (l). I have managed to spell quite a number of words that relate to a chemistry classroom. If you are lucky, you can even spell your name with the periodic table blocks.
In my classroom right now, I have two banners: one that says “Lab is FUN” and another that says “Be You, Be Kind.” I think it makes my room more interesting than it would be otherwise.
So many options would be great in your classroom
So, how did I make these? Where can you get a banner like this? Never fear, in the links below I have done all the hard work for you. In my TeacherPayTeacher storefront, I have 5 banner sets, including the following
Each banner comes in two shapes for the individual banner pieces – dovetail and gonfalon (pictured below). All one needs to do is print the pages, laminate, punch holes, and string up on twine.
The best part about these banners? They are created in Canva and are available as editable Canva templates. You can change the colors of each banner piece to suit your decor or to match your school colors. The colors can be solid or gradients. Most importantly, a free Canva account is sufficient to customize the banners. There are no pro or paid elements of any kind.
Try out using the periodic table to spell words. Make banners to decorate your room. The results will be beautiful. Periodic table decoration makes your room decidedly a chemistry room.
When I brought in a hands-on hook at the start of a lesson, just something simple like tasks cards or a mystery challenge, it completely changed how my students paid attention. If you’re ready to try stuff like that more consistently, download the Engaged Chemistry Classroom Blueprint. It’s free and full of ideas you can build on, your way.
Need fun and engaging activities for your class? How about games and manipulatives? Want to learn more about the benefits of real-world examples in your teaching? Consult other posts to learn more.
