Making Atom Models

Looking for a way to engage students in atom?  Try making a model of an atom in the classroom!  You do not need that many supplies and students have fun learning about atoms while making the models.  When I made the models of atoms with my students they really liked working with the different materials and not having to sit through a boring PowerPoint!

To make a model of an element with 5 protons, 6 neutrons, and 5 electrons, you just need the following supplies:

• ·         50 cm of fishing line for each student
• ·         One longer pipe cleaner for each student
• ·         One shorter pipe cleaner for each student
• ·         Five plastic beads for each student
• ·         Five fruit loops of one color for each student
• ·         Six fruit loops of another color for each student
• ·         Instruction sheet on how to make an atom model for each student

The instruction sheet each student was given contained the following information:

Procedure for making an atom model

Following the below procedure to made an atom that has 5 protons, 6 neutrons, and 5 electrons.

1) You will pick two pipe cleaners of different colors.

2) You will ask the teacher for the number of beads you want to represent the electrons.  Remember you want the same amount of beads as electrons.

3) You will now pick out how many fruit loops you need for you model.  Remember the one color fruit loop will represent the protons and another different color fruit loop will represent the neutrons. 

4) You will put the electrons on the pipe cleaner.  Remember that the first level can only hold two electrons, but the second level can hold the rest of the electrons.

5) After adding the electrons to the pipe cleaner, put the pipe cleaner into a circle and carefully twist the piper cleaner together at the top to close the circle.

6) For the second longer pipe cleaner, with any needed electrons, you will put the pipe cleaner into a circle and twist the top of the pipe cleaner to connect to the first pipe clear.  The second longer pip cleaner should be around the first pipe cleaner and not inside of it.

7) Ask the teacher for 50 cm of fishing line.

8) You will put the fishing line through the holes on the fruit loops and gently tie the fishing line together so the fruit loops form a tight group.

9) You will now tie the fishing line to the pipe cleaner; one end of the fishing line will be tied to the top of the pipe cleaner circle and the other end of the fishing line will be tied to the bottom of the pipe cleaner circle.

10) You will use the sticky note labels at the front of the classroom to label your model.  Write the word “electron” on one sticky note label and stick it to an electron in your model (it does not matter which electron you decide to put the label on). Write the word “neutron” on one sticky note label and stick it to a neutron in your model (it does not matter which neutron you decide to put the label on). Write the word “proton” on one sticky note label and stick it to a proton in your model (it does not matter which proton you decide to put the label on). Write the word “nucleus” on one sticky note label and stick it to the nucleus in your model.

11) Write your name and class on the notecard the teacher gives  you.  The notecard is hole-punched in the corner so you can attach the notecard to your atom with string once you have written your name and class on it.

This idea was adapted from: Winward, C. (2010). Making an atom model. Retrieved from http://www.lessoncorner.com/l/gentlesurf/Makinganatommodel