I have students construct Lewis structures on the board starting at the noble gases and working backwards to the group 14 elements.  We talk about both second period then heavier elements.  As we move across the period we transition from molecular solids to extended solids.  

This is a nice transition from molecular chemistry to extended compounds.  I use this as a bridge into the solid state portion of the course because it allows me to review Lewis structures, trends in bond energies, and provide some descriptive chemistry information. 

­In this activity, students self-organize according to periodic trends. I print out the attached cards onto card stock (each page will contain two) and hand them out to the students (one to each). Generally, we go outside and I shout out periodic trends (i.e. size, polarizability, ionization energy, Z_eff etc.) and the students run to get in line in the correct order.  I have a bell which I ding if correct, and a buzzer that I sound if incorrect. If incorrect, they have to try again.