Understanding how the periodic table of elements is organized and how to read information from it is fundamental for understanding chemistry. Introductory chemistry courses usually include discussions detailing what elemental information can be determined by virtue of its position on the periodic table. Although many people have been exposed to these ideas, they still do not understand how the periodic table is organized. This article describes new discovery-based lessons that enable students to explore the organization of the periodic table and learn how to read the information embedded within it. This method guides students through hands-on, minds-on activities that allow them to develop visual-spatial images of the role valence electrons play in the formation of molecules from atoms and in the organization of the periodic table. This new constructivist teaching method has been successfully used with learners of many ages from eight years old through adult learners.