Classroom Resources: Atomic Structure
26 – 50 of 50 Classroom Resources
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Elements, Periodic Table, Atoms, Model of the Atom, Valence Electrons, Atomic Mass, Subatomic Particles | Middle School, High School
Activity: Mystery Elements
The students will work in cooperative groups to construct Bohr models of "mystery" elements and record missing information about each element. Students will also create a new "mystery" element card for a classmate to analyze and determine its identity.
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Periodic Table, Model of the Atom, Subatomic Particles, Atomic Radius, Ionic Radius, Electrons | Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Animation: Atomic & Ionic Radii Animation
In this animation, students will have an opportunity to visualize atomic and ionic radii. They will look at the different sizes of atoms in the third period and the atoms in the sixth group. They will also look at an atom and its cation as well as an atom and its anion. **This video has no audio**
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History, Model of the Atom, Atomic Theory, Subatomic Particles, Radioactive Isotopes | Middle School, High School
Video: Ernest Rutherford Video
Rutherford's initial research was studying alpha particles, which he hypothesized were helium nuclei. With the help of Hans Geiger, Rutherford conducted the gold foil experiment, which justifies that the nucleus of an atom is a dense collection of protons and contains the majority of an atom’s mass. It also inferred that most of the atom is empty space and electrons are not located in the nucleus. He won the Nobel Prize in chemistry in 1908 for his studies on radioactive substances.
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History, Periodic Table, Model of the Atom, Atomic Theory, Atomic Mass, Subatomic Particles | Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Video: Dimitri Mendeleev Video
This video tells the story of how Dimitri Mendeleev organized the periodic table, even leaving gaps to be filled in with elements that weren't yet discovered.
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Atomic Mass, Subatomic Particles | Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Video: History of the Periodic Table Video
In this video, Sam Kean tells the story of the development of the periodic table. He also pays tribute to each of the major scientific contributors, including Dimitri Mendeleev, who made great discoveries through their efforts to best organize the elements.
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Observations, Physical Properties, History, Model of the Atom | Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Video: Ancient Chemistry Video
This video traces the history of chemistry from the discovery of fire, through the various metal ages, and finally to the great philosophers.
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Periodic Table, Model of the Atom, Valence Electrons, Subatomic Particles, Electrons, Ions | High School, Middle School
Lab: Sweet Model of the Atom
In this lesson, students will use different candies to represent electrons, protons, and neutrons to gain a better understanding of atoms, ions, and isotopes.
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Interdisciplinary, History, Model of the Atom, Culminating Project, Atomic Theory | High School, Middle School
Activity: Scientist Infographic
In this activity, students will design and publish an infographic focused on a well-known scientist and their contribution to the development of the atomic model.
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Atoms, Model of the Atom, Isotopes, Atomic Theory, Atomic Mass, Subatomic Particles, Ions | High School, Middle School
Activity: Simulation Activity: Building an Atom
In this simulation, students manipulate the number of protons, neutrons, and electrons in an element and determine how these effect the mass number, atomic number, and other properties of an atom.
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Naming Compounds, Molecular Formula, Periodic Table, Covalent Bonding, Ionic Bonding, Valence Electrons, Subatomic Particles, Lewis Dot Diagrams, Molecular Geometry, Ions, Lewis Structures | High School, Middle School
Activity: Simulation Activity: Ionic and Covalent Bonding
In this simulation, students investigate both ionic and covalent bonding. Students will have the opportunity to interact with many possible combinations of atoms and will be tasked with determining the type of bond and the number of atom needed to form each. The simulation visually differentiates between the transferring of electrons when forming an ionic compound and the sharing of electrons when forming a covalent compound so that students can have a complete understanding of each. Finally, students will become familiar with the molecular formula, as well as the naming system for each type of bond and geometric shape, when applicable.
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Physical Properties, History, Periodic Table, Atoms, Model of the Atom, Isotopes, Electron Configuration, Valence Electrons, Atomic Mass, Subatomic Particles, Atomic Radius, Chemical Properties, Electrons, Orbitals | High School, Middle School
Activity: Ptable.com Investigations
In this activity, students will use the online periodic table found at www.ptable.com to investigate a number of chemistry concepts. Students will use this online resource to explore information about the elements, including historical data, physical properties, periodic trends and more.
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Physical Properties, Interdisciplinary, History, Periodic Table, Review, Culminating Project, Isotopes, Electron Configuration, Atomic Mass, Subatomic Particles, Chemical Properties | High School, Middle School
Project: 21st Century Elements
In this project, students will learn the importance of the elements in our lives. The students will research one chosen element and create a website, a digital comic strip, or a video to explain the important properties of the element as well as why the element is so important to our lives.
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Review, Model of the Atom, Isotopes, Balancing Equations, Atomic Mass, Subatomic Particles, Lewis Dot Diagrams, Electrons, Ions | High School, Middle School
Activity: Tic-Tac-Toe Review
In this activity students collaborate to complete tic-tac-toe review questions to prepare for a test on the atomic structure unit. The idea behind the activity is to give students choice and you can read more about the inspiration for the activity in the May issue of Chemistry Solutions.
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Electricity, Energy & Thermodynamics, Subatomic Particles, Law of Conservation of Energy, Cathode, Anode, Electron Transfer, Electrons, Electrons | Middle School
Lesson Plan: Battery Basics
In this lesson students will explore the chemical reaction that occurs within a lead-acid car battery and the role of the battery within a car prior to creating their own batteries.
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Chemical Change, Acid & Base Theories, Strong vs Weak, Mixture, Salts, Ions, Conductivity | Middle School
Lesson Plan: Why Drink Gatorade?
In this lesson, students will test different flavors of Gatorade and other liquids to investigate acids and bases. This will take several days unless students already know about acids and bases.
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Naming Compounds, Molecular Formula, Precipitate, Ionic Bonding, Ions | Middle School
Activity: Bond with a Classmate
In this activity, students are assigned an ion and form bonds with their classmates, recording the formula and name of the compound they created.
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Elements, Periodic Table, Atoms, Model of the Atom, Atomic Mass, Electrons | Middle School
Activity: Augmented Reality and the Atomic Model
In this project, students will first work with a partner to select a common element from the periodic table to research. They will create a video using iPods to present their research and they will access the Aurasma app on iPods to upload their video. Students will create a trigger image using a picture of the element from the periodic table. Secondly, the students will use the Aurasma App to scan a different element’s trigger image and will use information from another group’s video to construct a model that replicates the atomic structure for the selected element.
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Interdisciplinary, Atomic Spectra, Identifying an Unknown, Emission Spectrum, Electromagnetic Spectrum, Emission Spectrum | Middle School, High School
Lab: Spectral Detective
In this lab, students will use a spectroscope to view the atomic spectra of various unknown elements. Using their collected data in combination with known atomic spectra, they will identify the chemical elements.
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Interdisciplinary, Atomic Spectra, Identifying an Unknown, Emission Spectrum, Electromagnetic Spectrum, Emission Spectrum | Middle School, High School
Lab: Build a Spectroscope
In this lab, the students will make and use a spectroscope to identify the spectra within various types of light bulbs. The students will then develop an improved design for the spectroscope.
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Elements, History, Atoms, Isotopes, Atomic Theory, Subatomic Particles | Middle School, High School
Activity: Atomic Structure RAFT
In this activity, students choose from a number of activity options in order to best display their understanding of atomic structure. The RAFT model will be followed for this assignment, which means the students choose their assignment and may modify the assignment based on Role, Audience, Format, and Topic.
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Introduction, Elements, History, Periodic Table, Atoms, Subatomic Particles, Electrons | Middle School, Elementary School, High School
Activity: Writing Your Name using Chemical Element Symbols
In this activity, students will use their creativity to spell their name (first or middle name and their last name) using chemical symbols of elements on the periodic table. For example, you can spell Yvonne using the symbols for yttrium (Y), vanadium (V), oxygen (O), nitrogen (N), and neon (Ne).
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Elements, Interdisciplinary, History, Periodic Table, Atoms, Model of the Atom | Middle School, High School
Project: Element Baby Book
In this activity, students will “adopt” an element and create a baby book about their “new baby” while they research and learn about the element.
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Observations, Introduction, Elements, History, Periodic Table, Atoms, Model of the Atom, Culminating Project, Matter | Middle School, High School
Activity: Is a Picture Worth 1000 Words?
In this activity, students will learn about early chemistry discoveries through a textbook reading as well as from a cartoon.
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Introduction, Elements, Periodic Table, Atoms, Model of the Atom, Electrons | Middle School, High School
Activity: Periodic Puzzler
In this activity, students will learn about what makes up an atom and how important protons are in the placement of elements on the periodic table.
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Electricity, Interdisciplinary, Atoms, Culminating Project, Electrons, Electrons | Elementary School, Middle School
Activity: Electrical Circuit Quiz Box
In this activity, students will learn that the flow of electrons within a closed circuit make our lives easier. Students will construct a circuit quiz box that lights up when the correct question and answer are chosen.