The Disappearing Spoon: And Other True Tales of Madness, Love, and the History of the World from the Periodic Table

Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. What is an element? Why are elements so important in scientific discovery? In what other areas might they be important? What is the purpose of the periodic table of elements?

Teaching Suggestion: In The Disappearing Spoon, Sam Kean explores the history behind the periodic table of elements and the effects those elements have on society. It may be helpful to pose these questions and then use these or similar resources to explore what the elements are and how they are discovered. Small groups might report their findings.

• This 3-minute video explores the definition and the composition of elements.
• This 4-minute video explains how the periodic table of elements was created.

Short Activity

Color code the periodic table of elements to explore groups of elements, then explore the properties of each group.

Teaching Suggestion: Kean’s book explores the periodic table of elements. Students may find it beneficial to have a reference chart as the author describes periodic table groups. Consider providing students with a black-and-white completed table to color code or to use in taking notes.