Lesson Planet
Search educational resources
  • Sign In Try It Free
  • AI Teacher Tools
    • Discover Resources Search reviewed educational resources by keyword, subject, grade, type, and more
    • Curriculum Manager (My Content) Manage saved and uploaded resources and folders To Access the Curriculum Manager Sign In or Join Now
    • Browse Resource Directory Browse educational resources by subject and topic
    • Curriculum Calendar Explore curriculum resources by date
    • Lesson Planning Articles Timely and inspiring teaching ideas that you can apply in your classroom
    • Our Story
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Testimonials
    • Contact Us
  • Pricing
  • School Access
    • Your school or district can sign up for Lesson Planet — with no cost to teachers
      Learn More
  • Sign In
  • Try It Free

Hi, what do you want to do?

Create a lesson plan
Create a lesson plan
Generate resources with 80+ AI teacher tools
Generate resources with 80+ AI teacher tools
Search 200,000 instructional videos
Search 200,000 instructional videos
Find a teaching resource
Find a teaching resource
Isotopes and Atomic Mass InteractiveIsotopes and Atomic Mass Interactive
Publisher
PhET
Resource Details
Curator Rating
Educator Rating
Not yet Rated
Grade
6th - Higher Ed
Subjects
Science
3 more...
Resource Type
Interactives
Audiences
For Teacher Use
1 more...
Duration
15 mins
Instructional Strategy
Simulation
Technology
Projection
Internet Access
Usage Permissions
Creative Commons
BY: 4.0
cc
Language
English, Spanish, French, Chinese, German, Korean, Other
Interactive

Isotopes and Atomic Mass

Curated and Reviewed by Lesson Planet
This Isotopes and Atomic Mass interactive also includes:
  • Isotopes and Atomic Mass
  • Join to access all included materials

Some isotopes are unstable, or radioactive, meaning they will decay over time and turn into another isotope or stable element. In the interactive simulation, participants manipulate elements to create isotopes and gather information. Stability, abundance in nature, percent composition, and average atomic mass are some of the facts scholars can gather from different isotopes. 

80 Views 68 Downloads
CCSS: Adaptable

Concepts

isotopes, atoms, atomic mass

Additional Tags

science

Instructional Ideas

  • After using the simulation in class, have pairs research specific isotopes for interesting information and share their knowledge with the class

Classroom Considerations

  • Teachers can create a free account and then access related lessons, teacher tips, video primers, and other activities 
  • Assumes classes possess knowledge about the periodic table, atoms, elements, and subatomic particles

Pros

  • Activity can be accessed in many different languages
  • Simulation uses high-quality graphics
  • Simulation is simple, easy to use, and utilizes quality graphics

Cons

  • None

Common Core

RST.6-8.3

See similar resources:

Printables

Element Cards

The Science Spot
This template is made up of cards for 18 common elements. The chemical symbol is provided, along with space to write in the numbers of protons, neutrons, and electrons, draw Bohr diagrams and Lewis structures, and more!
7th - 12th Science
Worksheet

Why and How Atoms Combine

Curated OER
Here is a top-notch handout to supply your chemistry class with. It covers valence electrons, Lewis diagrams, the octet rule, and more! Technically it is less of a worksheet than a detailed explanation of these chemical bonding concepts....
9th - 12th Science
Instructional Video

What Are Atoms and Isotopes?

Veritasium
Atoms may make up everything, but what are they made of? The narrator asks patrons at a local park what atoms are in an interview-style video. He then creates an atomic model and adds a neutron to it, opening the discussion to isotopes.
3 mins 6th - 12th Science
Instructional Video

Isotopes

Ricochet Science
Altering the subatomic nature of an atom affects its properties. The video illustrates the idea of an isotope using Carbon-12, Carbon-13, and Carbon-14 as examples. 
2 mins 9th - 12th Science
PPT

History of the Atom

Curated OER
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...
8th - 12th Science
Interactive

Atoms to Molecules: Constructing Helium

CK-12 Foundation
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...
7th - 9th Science
Instructional Video

The Science of Macaroni Salad: What's in a Molecule?

TED-Ed
After showing they quick-paced featurette on the breaking of bonds, hold a discussion using the accompanying Think questions. Complex molecules are broken down into smaller molecules during digestion. There are six main molecules that...
3 mins 4th - 9th Science
CCSS: Adaptable
Lesson Plan

Radioactive Simulations

Curated OER
Young scholars simulate radioactive decay and nuclear power using an on line interactive web site. In this on line lesson plan, students monitor radioactive isotopes and record the activity of a particular element as the decay...
9th - 12th Science
Interactive

Study Jams! Elements & Compounds

Scholastic
Compound class members' knowledge of elements and compounds with this delightful video clip! As the animated characters work on baking a birthday cake, they reveal that elements are simple substances that can be combined to form...
4 mins 5th - 9th Science
CCSS: Adaptable
Lesson Plan

Understanding Elements

Teach Engineering
Nothing says organization quite like a table. The third lesson in a six-part Mixtures and Solutions unit teaches young scientists about elements and the periodic table. They learn how the periodic table is organized and about the...
5th - 7th Science
Try It Free
© 1999-2026 Learning Explorer, Inc.
Teacher Lesson Plans, Worksheets and Resources

Sign up for the Lesson Planet Monthly Newsletter

Open Educational Resources (OER)

  • Health
  • Language Arts
  • Languages
  • Math
  • Physical Education
  • Science
  • Social Studies
  • Special Education
  • Visual and Performing Arts
View All Lesson Plans

Discover Resources

  • Our Review Process
  • How it Works
  • How to Search
  • Create a Collection

Manage Curriculum

  • Edit a Collection
  • Assign to Students
  • Manage My Content
Contact Us Site Map Privacy Policy Terms of Use