Virginia Department of Education
Historical Models of Atoms
What does the past have to do with today? Young scientists find that answer as they learn more about past chemists and their significant contributions to the field. Pupils use the Internet to research historical figures and create a...
Curated OER
Atoms and Elements: An Introduction
Students are able to discuss the difference between a proton, a neutron and an electron. They also can explain the difference between an ionic and a covalent bond. Students know the main structure of atoms and molecules. Student are able...
Curated OER
History of the Atom
This is a tremendous overview of the tiny atom. Journey through the history of human understanding of this basic building block of matter. Examine each of the sub-atomic particles in detail: neutrons, protons, electrons, quarks. Peruse...
Curated OER
Making Models of Atoms and Isotopes
For this models of atoms and isotopes worksheet, students use marshmallow of different colors to represent the protons, neutrons and electrons in an atom. Students make models of the 3 isotopes of hydrogen. They draw a diagram of each...
CK-12 Foundation
Atoms to Molecules: Constructing Helium
Protons and neutrons and electrons, oh my! Physical science scholars get hands-on with interactive atomic modeling. Starting with a simple helium atom, participants create and name ions, then build isotopes. Questions throughout the...
American Chemical Society
Atoms Can Be Rearranged to Make Different Molecules
Uncover the building blocks of the universe as budding chemists explore atoms and molecules in an exciting inquiry-based activity. Investigators view an interactive video describing the chemical structure of six molecules. Using...
Curated OER
Carbon Atom Mobile
Students research the element of carbon, its composition, and the importance of carbon to life on earth. Then they design model mobiles of carbon atoms to demonstrate their understanding of the configuration of protons, neutrons, and...
American Chemical Society
The Periodic Table and Energy-Level Models
Teach your class to think of electrons as tiny packets of energy that travel in waves. Through a short video and diagram, participants see how electrons are located around the nucleus of an atom. They then get into groups and try to...
Curated OER
Atoms and Elements - Electron Arrangement and Periodic Law
Delve into the world of quantum mechanics by viewing this PowerPoint. Chemistry novices learn about electron energy and shells, and they practice listing electron configuration for different atoms. Because this presentation provides...
Curated OER
Atoms, Ions and Formula Basics Make-up Test
Using a copy of the periodic table, chemistry test takers fill in a chart with element name, chemical symbol, atomic number, atomic mass, and numbers of subatomic particles. They define subatomic particles, draw atom models, explain...
Curated OER
Silica Tetrahedron Model
Very simply, pairs of learners construct a model of the tetrahedral silica structure using raisins and toothpicks. They dip it into a soapy solution and then blow a bubble "atom" into its center. The lesson plan gives instructions that...
LABScI
The Rutherford Atomic Model: Hidden Obstacles
Historically, scientists had to be creative to study subatomic structure. Scholars step into their minds to recreate the procedure Rutherford used to create his atomic model. Learners identify the creative efforts of early scientists...
Concord Consortium
Structure of an Atom
Feeling a little uncertain about your materials for teaching the quantum mechanical model of the atom? Here is an interactive that will help! Chemistry and physics scholars alike will benefit from a simple resource that illustrates the...
Teach Engineering
Gumdrop Atoms
There's nothing sticky about the resource, unless you count the gumdrops! Scholars create a model of a lithium atom, complete with protons, neutrons, and electrons. It's just that these models are made with gumdrops and toothpicks.
Virginia Department of Education
The Modern Model of Atomic Structure
The difference between atomic mass and atomic number can be confusing for some young chemists. Help your class better understand the concepts by allowing them to sketch an atom on paper and then discuss their experience. Upon completion...
McGraw Hill
The Bohr Atom
Elements don't have fingers, but they have fingerprints! An interactive simulation gives young scientists the opportunity to study orbital changes of an atom and the corresponding spectrum reading. They realize how each atom has a unique...
Henrico County Public Schools
Models for Teaching Addition and Subtraction of Integers
Positive and negative numbers are everywhere in the world around us. Whether it's charged particles in atoms, a hot air balloon rising and falling in the sky, or a series of bills and checks being delivered in the mail, this resource...
Texas State Energy Conservation Office
Investigation: Chemical Models
Science teams make models of four different hydrocarbon compounds that we commonly use for fuel. Then they demonstrate chemical reactions that result when energy is produced. This can be used as an enrichment when your class is studying...
Cornell University
What Happens When We Excite Atoms and Molecules?
Excited atoms lead to exciting lessons! Learners use heat and light to excite both atoms and molecules. They display their learning in the form of Bohr models depicting the excited state of the atoms.
Curated OER
Review Models of the Atom
Multiple representations of the varying theories of atomic structure. With these pictures and some background of the theories and scientific figures surrounding them, your class will develop a better understanding of scientific history...
Curated OER
Up and Atom
"Up and Atom" is a mini-unit introducing middle-schoolers to the wonders of elements. Participants draw atom models, examine the periodic table, compare samples of metals to nonmetals, identify unknown elements, and more! The beginning...
PhET
Rutherford Scattering
Rutherford performed his famous experiment in 1907 with Marsden, showing the true atomic structure. This interactive simulation compares Rutherford's historical experiment to the Plum pudding model of the atom. In both models, alpha...
Aquarium of the Pacific
Lego Molecules
Young scientists construct an understanding of molecular compounds in this hands-on science lesson. Using LEGO® to model the atoms of different elements, students build molecules based on the chemical formulas of common compounds.
Scholastic
Study Jams! Atoms: Protons, Neutrons, Electrons
What's smaller than a kiwi seed? Atoms! Basic atomic structure is detailed for beginning chemists in a light-hearted animation. Protons and neutrons are explained as part of the nucleus, and so are electrons that encircle the nucleus....