Chicago Botanic Garden
Are All Plants Created Equal?
Photosynthesis requires energy and produces food, and cellular respiration produces energy and requires food. An interesting lesson analyzes the factors that affect the rates of photosynthesis and respiration. Classes spend one day...
Curated OER
What's the Matter? Locating Electrons in an Atom
Middle schoolers roll dice in order to simulate the probability of locating an electron in a certain region around the nucleus.
Curated OER
Evidence Revealing the Composition of the Atom
Investigators use indirect evidence to guess what is occupying a sealed box. You could also use a set of plastic Easter eggs to encase the unknown items. Another terrific activity involves having students drop a pencil on a sheet of...
Curated OER
The Causes of Differences in Density
Students explore how density changes. Students read an article on density. They observe a ball and ring demonstration and discuss the outcome. Students draw models of the demonstration and explain what happened.
Curated OER
Of Electron Bondage
Students create models of ionic and covalent electronic bonds to demonstrate their understanding of these chemistry concepts. They explain how both ionic bonds and covalent bonds work so that younger students can understand.
Virginia Department of Education
Chemical Bonds
How are chemical bonds similar and how are they different? Provide your young chemists with the resources to more thoroughly understand the concepts of ionic and covalent bonds. Pupils research these topics, diagram examples of each...
Cornell University
The Making of Macromolecules
Compare and contrast macromolecules made from the same elements. Young scholars learn how the structure of a molecule has as much influence on a compound as the elements in the molecule. They experiment with molecular model kits to...
Perkins School for the Blind
Building an Organic Molecule
Glucose is a simple sugar and a molecule that can be illustrated through modeling. Scientific investigators with visual impairments use hands-on models to reconstruct the process of bonding molecules. The tools used in this activity are...
Curated OER
Atomic Structure - Part A
Students describe the structure of atoms, including the particles that make them up. They recognize that key scientists and experiments have contributed to the changes
in the Atomic Theory.
Curated OER
Hydrocarbons
Making models is always memorable. In this activity, physical science starters examine the structure of hydrocarbons using marshmallows, raisins, and toothpicks. They even act as atoms themselves and link arms to represent covalent...
National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network
Synthesis and Characterization of CdSe Quantum Dots
Does the size of a sample change the physical properties of that substance? It turns out it can! Young scientists combine physics and chemistry to synthesize CdSe quantum dots and record their color properties. Learners should...
Curated OER
What a Bohr!
Students define, identify and illustrate the parts of an atom, and investigate the Bohr atomic model. Students watch a multimedia presentation to understand an atom's parts and their functions. In groups, they create a model of an atom...
Discovery Education
Architects in Action
Hands-on and real-world applications are great ways to teach mathematical concepts. Creative thinkers examine how ratios are used to create scale models of buildings and structures. They practice working with ratios by looking at a map...
Curated OER
The Day the Atom Died (Grade K-1)
Students investigate what is wrong with the Rutherford atomic model. In this chemistry instructional activity, students answer questions about the atomic model after watching a video. They draw conclusions from the video and discuss how...
Curated OER
Molecular Modeling Activity
Learners explore the concept of molecular modeling and differentiate between saturated and unsaturated compounds. In small groups, they identify molecular formulas, complete a chart comparing alkanes, alkenes, and alkynes, and construct...
Curated OER
Molecular Modeling
Young scholars recognize that the fundamental building block of all organic and inorganic matter is the atom. They construct models of a sugar, fatty acid, amino acid and nucleic acid and describe their roles.
Curated OER
A Peek into the Lives of Stars!
Students create a model of the birth of a star and demonstrate the stages of the star's lifecycle. In this star lifecycle lesson, students mix flour and water in a jar to model the birth of a star, then role-play the entire...
Curated OER
Gumdrop Crystal Models
A great way to learn about molecular structures is to make a model. Gumdrops and toothpicks are used to construct crystal models. The models are based on theories of crystal shapes that occur because of positive and or negatively charged...
Texas State Energy Conservation Office
Investigation: Splitting Atoms
In a simple activity, physical scientists model nuclear fission using a droplet of oil. This can be used alone in a unit on different types of energy, or as part of the energy conservation unit produced by the Texas State Energy...
Curated OER
Atomic Structure
Students list the names and symbols of common elements. They describe the present model of the atom. Students describe how electrons are arranged in an atom. They identify quarks as particles of matter that make up protons and...
Curated OER
Matter: Atoms and Molecules
Students investigate how information about the atom has been determined. In this atomic structure instructional activity, students draw what they think an atom looks like. They conduct Internet research about the types of atomic models...
Curated OER
Model Mania
Eighth graders study the conservation of matter. In this chemical reaction lesson students examine what happens during a chemical reaction and complete a lab activity.
Curated OER
Atoms
Eighth graders explain what makes up matter. In this atoms lesson plan students define an atom and what its components are and identify properties of elements.
Curated OER
How Atoms Work
Students analyze the way atoms function and how they combine to form molecules and various compounds. Using a software program, they create a diagram of an atom and write a summary about their functions. They complete a worksheet and...