How to Make a Periodic Table Pillowcase

Elementary and middle school students will love this Periodic Table pillowcase project. It’s a great way to have fun while learning about chemistry. The elements on the table represent a complete list of the ingredients that make up our world, so they are an important part of basic chemistry. The students will especially enjoy making the radioactive elements glow in the dark! Read on to learn more.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• 4 sheets of white paper
• Clear tape
• Black marker
• Periodic Table chart
• 1 white pillowcase
• Straight pins
• Fabric markers
• Glow-in-the-dark fabric paint

1. Tape four sheets of white paper into a single large surface. Copy the outline of the Periodic Table onto the paper. Outline with black marker. For a ready-to-use pattern, see the Resources section below this article.
2. Lay the pattern inside pillowcase and center it. Use straight pins to secure it to the cloth so that it will not slip around.
3. Use the fabric markers to trace over the lines and write in the atomic numbers and the letter symbols of each element. For a more accurate Periodic Table, use colors to match the traditional color-coding of the groups of elements in the Table.
4. Follow instructions on the fabric marker package, perhaps ironing the design. Remove pattern and pins before ironing.
5. Re-insert pattern. Use glow-in-the-dark fabric paint to mark the radioactive elements. Possible decorations include tracing the element's symbol, outlining its box or just putting a dot in the corner of that box.
6. Allow paint to dry thoroughly, then remove the paper pattern. Follow any instructions on the paint for finishing, such as ironing.

Tips & Warnings

• Wash your Periodic Table pillowcase before sleeping on it.
• Keep information simple. The pillowcase will probably look best with only the element symbol and number in each box.
• Speed up drying time of paint by using a hair dryer.
• Acrylic paint does not wash out of clothing after it dries. Keep your clothes clean. If paint gets on your clothes, wash it out immediately.