The Elements; Ingredients of the Universe, Paperback

An introduction to chemistry for ages 8 to 13. This is a full curriculum and includes both an 80-page student text and a100-page teacher's section providing patterns and instructions for a wide variety of games, crafts, activities, songs, skits and experiments. The writing style is warm and engaging and often includes whimsical humor and cartoons. The topics covered include the structure of atoms, how atoms bond (covalent, ionic, metallic), electron orbitals and shells, the octect rule, the history of the Periodic Table, and an overview of each family group on the Periodic Table (metals, non-metals, noble gases, alkali metals, etc.). After using this curriculum, the student is ready to tackle high school chemistry without fear. (The book is also available as a digital product on the author's website: www.ellenjmchenry.com.)