Curated OER
Edible Atom/Molecule
Upcoming chemists construct atom or molecule models out of candy. This is a classic idea that learners really enjoy; however, this lesson plan is vague. There is no instruction about the structure of atoms or molecules. Make sure you...
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...
Illustrative Mathematics
Accuracy of Carbon 14 Dating II
The scientific issue of carbon-14 dating and exponential decay gets a statistics-based treatment in this problem. The class starts with a basic investigation of carbon content, but then branches out to questions of accuracy and...
Curated OER
Models of Hydrocarbons
Students construct models of hydrocarbon molecules using candy and toothpicks. In this hydrocarbons lesson plan, students are given a sheet with the molecular formulas of hydrocarbons. As a group, they construct each molecule using...
American Chemical Society
Heat, Temperature, and Conduction
How does heat move from one item to another, even when the items are in different states of matter? Pupils experiment with adding washers to hot water and adding hot washers to room temperature water to observe the heat transfer.
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...
Center for Learning in Action
Introduction to Matter
Begin your states of matter lessons with a demonstration designed to introduce the concept that all matter has properties. Reinforce this concept through vocabulary exploration, and the creation of atom models; salt, water, and carbon...
National Wildlife Federation
The Amazing Adventures of Carbon: How Carbon Cycles through the Earth
Here's a stat for your pupils: 18 percent of the human body is carbon! Part 10 in the series of 12 takes pairs on an adventure through the carbon cycle. After a class reading about carbon, pairs read and choose their own adventure...
American Chemical Society
Energy Levels, Electrons, and Ionic Boding
Learners see how electrons are transferred in the bonding of NaCl. They then create models of NaCl using styrofoam balls and toothpicks to assist them in explaining the formation of ions and ionic bonding.
Curated OER
Atomic Models
Students explain scientists' ideas about the structure of the atom over the last century. They develop a pictorial history of the changing ideas about the atom and write a caption describing the scientific thinking behind the model.
Curated OER
Composition of the Atom
Students investigate the structure of the atom and its composition. In this atom structure lesson, students find the area of cut out circles and drop pens into the circles. They count the number of marks in the circles and relate their...
Curated OER
A Model of a Scanning Tunneling Microscope
Ninth graders explain how a scanning tunneling microscope works. In this chemistry lesson plan, 9th graders construct atomic models and simulate how their images appear under the STM. They discuss the limitations of their atomic model.
Curated OER
Mystery : Structure of the Atom-A Case for Indirect Evidence
Students investigate the structure of the atom through hands on activities. For this atomic structure lesson, students perform 4 activities showing indirect evidence of the structure of the atom and the parts of the atom. They also list...
Virginia Department of Education
Molecular Model Building
During this hands-on activity, young chemists build molecular models based on the Lewis dot structure before studying valence shell electron pair repulsion theory.
NASA
Development of a Model: Analyzing Elemental Abundance
How do scientists identify which elements originate from meteorites? Scholars learn about a sample of material found in a remote location, analyzing the sample to determine if it might be from Earth or not. They study elements, isotopes,...
Curated OER
Chemical Formulas for Molecules
Newcomers to chemistry compare hydrogen peroxide to water, realizing that the difference of one oxygen atom significantly affects the chemical properties. Other pairs of compounds and their formulas are also examined. A few chemical...
Curated OER
Building Blocks of Matter
Students view videos and worksheets and construct a model of a water molecule. In this atomic structure lesson plan, students view video clips and handouts about matter and nanoscience. They construct a model of a water molecule with...
Curated OER
What is an Atom?
Third graders understand that the smallest particle is an atom. In this matter lesson, 3rd graders make a piece of aluminum smaller and smaller to see that what's left is still aluminum. Students recognize that cutting into smaller...
Curated OER
Atomic Structure
Learners are introduced to moles and Avogadro's number, Bohr's model, Atomic emission spectra and quantum numbers. They also comprehend the current model of atoms and how electrons are described by quantum numbers.
Curated OER
Periodic Table of the Elements
First graders discuss, at their level, the concept of elements making up all matter. They discover the story of Dimitri Mendeleev and his discovery of the Periodic Table of the Elements. They locate and color some of the most common...
Curated OER
Build Your Own Atom
Young scholars build a model of an atom using an online program. For this chemistry lesson, students discuss the different parts of the atom. They complete an independent research about their chosen element.
Curated OER
The Flame and the Atom:
Young scholars investigate the structure of atoms. Students read information about the Rutherford model, the Bohr model, and the Quantum Mechanical model examining each for its scientific validity. They watch a PowerPoint presentation of...
Curated OER
Atom and Eve
Students research and define an atom using a concept map. They design and create a model of an atom, labelling all the parts, and write a journal entry.
Curated OER
How Atoms Work
Students explore the concept of atoms and how they combine to form molecules and compounds. In pairs, they read an article on how atoms work and discuss the main points. They draw atoms and write a paragraph about their elements.