Creativity is a big part of our children’s education. It is critical to develop the students’ well-rounded thinking, which later will increase their readiness for college, career, and joining society. Participating in artistic subjects will keep our children engaged in school and nurture their social and emotional health.

How To Enhance Your Children’s Artistic Mind Through Fun, Interactive Games

The role of creativity in honing young minds has been proven important by neuroscientists and cognitive science studies. Students who take part in creative activities beyond the conventional school subjects tend to be more successful academically, socially, and emotionally. They have the ability to easily develop required life skills and process information faster. This ability has become a very important attribute for students in the 21st century.

Creating a periodic table can be one example of a fun yet challenging project for young children. This project combines the need of academic knowledge and artistic abilities as the children have to craftily compile a table with an understanding of the relationships of each of the elements.

History of the Periodic Table

The first and most famous periodic table is the periodic table of elements. It was formulated by Dmitri Mendeleev in 1869, a Russian chemist and inventor. In his periodic table, Mendeleev listed the elements in the order of increasing atomic number. The columns or groups are determined by the atom’s electron configuration. The periods or the horizontal rows show the difference in ionization energy and electron affinity.

Creating Creative Periodic Table

Using Mendeleev’s principle, try to create your own periodic table. It can be about any subject and the level of complexity can be adjusted based on your children’s age. Below is an example of a periodic table about flowers.

In this periodic table of flowers, the groups or columns are differentiated by the flower’s life cycle. There are three groups marked with three different colors: annual flowers, biennial flowers, and perennial flowers. Annual flowers bloom once a year and will need to be replanted by the end of their life cycle as they will die after blooming. Perennials don’t need replanting and they typically bloom several times a year. They usually last from three to five years. Flowers that can last two life cycles are called biennials. Just like perennials, they bloom several times a year but will die after roughly two life cycles.

The vertical relationship of the table above describes the flower’s fondness to sun. At the top of the column are the flowers that thrive in the shades while at the bottom are those that need full sun to grow vivaciously. Horizontally, you can see the flowers’ difference in size as they go from small sizes to bigger ones. You may also notice that each row represents a color. As there are 4 rows, there are 4 colors: blue or violet, pink, red, and yellow.

When viewed individually, each box contains lots of information. The number at the top left describes the number of the order of the flower in the periodic table. The symbol below it is the abbreviation of the flower’s name that is written at the bottom center. There is also a picture so you can also see what the flower looks like.

Creating a periodic table is exciting and inspiring. It can also be beneficial for other people. Imagine someone designing their garden at home. He might need quick information on the flowers he wants to plant. If he is looking for a small red flower that has a long life and can thrive under the sun, then he can know that a mini rose is a great option just by looking at the periodic table above.

Can you see how this game is perfect for children’s school or home projects? As mentioned above, you can adjust the level of difficulty to suit the child’s age. So what are you waiting for? Create your own periodic table now! Who knows, it might even end up in a beautiful flower delivery from your family!

*This is a guest post. All thoughts and opinions are those of the author.