Element Sorting

Element Sorting

Categorize elements and reflect on their properties through movement.

  • 14+ years
  • Group size: 6+
  • Duration: 20 min
  • Competitive game
  • Physically Active Learning
  • Gym / Sports hall
  • Indoor
  • Open space
  • Buckets

The task consists of two parts:

Part 1 – Collecting elements

Paper slips with element names are spread out in a designated area, face down. Participants are divided into groups of 3-4 people. One person from each group runs into the area and retrieves one slip at a time, bringing it back to their group. This continues until all slips have been collected.

Part 2 – Sorting elements

Once all the slips have been collected, the groups should sort the elements into the following categories:

  1. Liquid substances
  2. Solid substances
  3. Gases

Initially, it is sufficient to use the 20 most common elements in the game.

Then, participants write their group number on each slip and run one by one to the buckets/baskets to place the slips in the correct category. The buckets must be clearly labeled with the category names.

Once all slips have been delivered, the contents of the buckets are reviewed. The group with the most correctly placed elements wins.

Participants can have the periodic table available in an overview format, or the teacher can have the overview and act as a control authority.

Participants work on categorizing elements and reflecting on their properties, while also training endurance. This is an example of physically active learning where theory and movement are combined.

Variation

The exercise can be adapted to other subjects and themes, for example by sorting:

  • animals into different groups
  • words into different word classes
  • vocabulary by language or theme

To increase the physical challenge, one can:

  • set up an obstacle course, for example with cones and benches
  • expand the area so participants have to run further

In this way, both the academic and physical levels can be adapted to the group.