How to set up Your " Very Large Periodic Table"
Updated: Aug 9
I've always wanted a HUGE periodic table to display on the wall of my chemistry classroom. It had to be large enough for students to see clearly from the back of the room, and it also needed to be colorful to brighten up the space.
Unfortunately, the store-bought periodic tables were never good enough for me. They weren't eye-catching or large enough to meet my needs.
So, I created a very large periodic table DIY kit that will take up almost an entire wall of your classroom. This kit not only ensures visibility from any point in the room but also adds a vibrant, engaging element to your classroom decor.
Just a heads up! Some of the links in this post are Amazon affiliate links. This means that if you make a purchase through one of these links, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you so much for supporting my website—it helps me keep creating helpful content for you!
Why Do We Need An Extra Large Periodic Table Anyway?
An extra-large periodic table offers numerous benefits that enhance both teaching and learning experiences:
Visibility: An extra-large periodic table ensures that all students, no matter where they are seated, can easily see and reference it during lessons. This is crucial for maintaining engagement and helping students follow along with the material.
Interactive Learning: With a big periodic table, students are more likely to interact with it during activities and discussions. It becomes a focal point in the classroom where students can gather to solve problems, answer questions, and engage in hands-on learning.
Classroom Decor: Beyond its educational use, an extra-large periodic table adds a vibrant and stimulating visual element to the classroom. It helps create a more dynamic and engaging learning environment that students look forward to being in.
Durability: An extra-large periodic table becomes a long-lasting classroom resource when printed on high-quality cardstock and laminated. It can withstand daily use and still look great year after year.
Setting Up Your " Very Large Periodic Table" Wall Display
Step 1: Purchase the DIY Kit
The first step is to purchase our comprehensive DIY Periodic Table Kit from Teachers Pay Teachers. This kit includes everything you need to get started, including printable element cards that conform to IUPAC naming and atomic weights. Family labels , group and period numbers as well as large bulletin board letters that spell out "The Periodic Table of Elements" .
Combining these components will enable you to produce a periodic table measuring around 9 x 7 feet. If your wall is not large enough, you can easily adjust the scale on your home computer (if printing at home) to ensure that the display fits the available space (instructions provided).
Step 2: Gather Supplies
The DIY kit is in black and white so if you want a periodic table that resembles the one pictured below, You will need high-quality paper to ensure your periodic table looks vibrant and professional.
We suggest utilizing Astrobrights colored cardstock for this purpose. This durable and bright paper will enhance the appearance and longevity of your periodic table.
These are the sets you will need.
Astrobrights Colored Card stock (Spectrum) - This set contains 25 colors, 3 sheets in each color. For our DIY kit, you will require 4 packets.
Astrobrights Bright White Card Stock- Use the white card stock for the family labels, group and period numbers, and bulletin board letters (1 packet)
Neenah Color Cardstock (Sunburst Yellow) - Use these for the transition metals (1 packet).
A printing and color guide is also included in the DIY kit.
You will also need the following supplies:
Printer (preferably color)
Scissors or a paper cutter
Adhesive (such as double-sided tape or sticky tack)
Ruler or measuring tape
Step 3: Print the Elements
Once you have your kit and supplies ready, start by printing the element cards. Use the Astrobrights cardstock to print each element, ensuring that the colors are vibrant and eye-catching.
To make printing a breeze, the elements are arranged according to their respective families.
Alkali metals
Alkaline earth metals
Transition metals
Other metals (post-transition metals)
Nonmetals
metalloids
halogens
noble gases
lanthanoids
actinoids
By using the printing guide, you simply load the respective colored card stock into your printer (I have even included the number of sheets needed) and print the page numbers indicated.
Step 4: Arrange the Elements
Before cutting, lay out the printed sheets to ensure you have all the elements organized correctly. This is a good time to plan your layout and make sure you have enough space on your wall.
If your wall is not large enough to accomodate a 9 x7 ft display, you can easily scale down directly in Adobe Reader's printing settings. instructions for reducing the size of your display are included in the kit.
Step 5: Cutting
Carefully cut out each element card using scissors or a paper cutter. Precision is key here to ensure that all cards are uniform in size and shape. This is the part that will take some time. But I promise you it will be worth it.
Save time by getting your students to help. Assign each group of students a family of elements and you will be done in no time.
Step 6: Preparing the Wall
Measure the area where you plan to set up the periodic table. Ensure you have enough space to accommodate the entire table, which will cover approximately 9 by 7 feet. Mark the boundaries lightly with a pencil to guide your placement.
Step 7: Setting Up
Start placing the element cards on the wall according to the periodic table layout. Use a ruler or measuring tape to ensure even spacing between cards. Adhesives such as double-sided tape or Adhesive Poster sticky tack works well for securing the cards to the wall without damaging the paint.
This heavy duty double sided tape is an excellent option.
Step 8: Final Adjustments
Once all the cards are up, step back and review your work. Make any necessary adjustments to ensure that all elements are aligned properly and the overall display looks neat and organized.
Step 9: Admire Your Work!
Congratulations! You've successfully set up your very large DIY periodic table. This impressive display will not only serve as a fantastic educational tool but also add a vibrant and engaging decor element to your classroom.
Pro Tip: For added durability, consider laminating each element card before setting them up on the wall.
For more details and a closer look at our DIY Periodic Table Kit, check out the product preview on our Teachers Pay Teachers page. This setup may take some time, but the end result is a stunning and functional classroom feature that’s well worth the effort.
Happy teaching!
