The periodic table does more than provide information about the elements. The periodic table also helps us make predictions about how the elements behave. Understanding the atomic structure of matter and periodic properties of the elements, as shown in the periodic table, is fundamental to many scientific disciplines. Unfortunately, high school students often view the periodic table as an overwhelming jumble of numbers and letters to be memorized, rather than a model with predictive and explanatory power. This article presents an activity that uses the rich history of the development of the periodic table to promote understanding of how the elements are organized. By arranging three sets of cards, students connect to the individuals in history whose creativity and imagination laid the groundwork for our evolving comprehension of the patterns in nature. This activity, which has strong connections to the "Next Generation Science Standards" (NGSS Lead States 2013), can be accomplished in as few as two class periods with little prep time or cost.