Cornell University
What Happens When We Excite Atoms and Molecules?
Excited atoms lead to exciting lessons! Learners use heat and light to excite both atoms and molecules. They display their learning in the form of Bohr models depicting the excited state of the atoms.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Molecules to the Max!—Teacher's Discovery Guide
Molecules to the Max! refers to a movie released in 2009 about the world of atoms and molecules. A helpful discovery guide provides five posters on science topics typically covered at the middle school level. It also explains the...
Curated OER
Atoms and Elements: An Introduction
Students are able to discuss the difference between a proton, a neutron and an electron. They also can explain the difference between an ionic and a covalent bond. Students know the main structure of atoms and molecules. Student are able...
American Chemical Society
Atoms Can Be Rearranged to Make Different Molecules
Uncover the building blocks of the universe as budding chemists explore atoms and molecules in an exciting inquiry-based activity. Investigators view an interactive video describing the chemical structure of six molecules. Using...
Curated OER
Atoms and Molecules
You can use hands on and kinesthetic activities to teach abstract concepts, such as atom and molecule lessons.
American Chemical Society
Molecules Matter
Did you know that jumping spiders sometimes wear water droplets as hats? A seventh grade science lesson introduces the concept of what makes up water: tiny molecules that are attracted to each other. Starting with a chemistry discussion,...
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...
Aquarium of the Pacific
Lego Molecules
Young scientists construct an understanding of molecular compounds in this hands-on science lesson plan. Using LEGO® to model the atoms of different elements, students build molecules based on the chemical formulas of common compounds.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Lego Atoms and Molecules: Chemical Reactions
Show young chemists what a chemical reaction looks like with two parts of a hands-on experiment. First, learners conduct a wet lab where they observe the reactants (baking soda and calcium chloride, with phenolsulfonphthalein) before,...
Concord Consortium
Making Molecules
It's molecule magic! Skillful scholars explore the effects of different atoms on molecular polarization using an intuitive interactive. The resource displays the charge at different locations on the molecule, then adapts as the user...
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Molecules to the Max!—Educators Resource Guide
From molecules to nanotubes, an engaging unit explores the world of tiny science. Fifteen hands-on experiments and lessons engage young scientists as they learn chemistry. Discussions, worksheets, and data analysis reinforce the concepts...
Teach Engineering
Gumdrop Atoms
There's nothing sticky about the resource, unless you count the gumdrops! Scholars create a model of a lithium atom, complete with protons, neutrons, and electrons. It's just that these models are made with gumdrops and toothpicks.
American Chemical Society
Moving Molecules in a Solid
Who likes magic shows? In the fourth of five lessons, pupils view a scientific magic trick. The ball fits through the ring easily, but then moments later, it won't pass through anymore. What changed? Can we reverse the change? Scholars...
Curated OER
Mighty Molecules
Students examine a PowerPoint production on molecules. Then they construct their own molecule and define what an atom, molecule, and matter is. They make a H2, HCI, and an H2O molecule. Finally, a drawing to accompany the actual model is...
Royal Society of Chemistry
Shapes of Molecules—Geometry of Central Atom
How is a molecule's shape determined? Explore bond angles, lone pairs, and VSEPR theory through a logic-based activity. Chemists pull together information about the major molecular shapes, then use it to solve puzzles.
Curated OER
The World of Molecules
Students investigate molecules through 2 demonstrations and writing formulas for molecules given the oxidation states of the atoms. In this molecules lesson plan, students observe iron filings being separated from salt and pepper using a...
Curated OER
Lab: Determining the Number of Moles and Molecules Used Up In a Burning Candle
Learners find moles and molecules used when a candle burns. In this moles and molecules lesson plan, students calculate the initial mass of a candle and the mass of a candle after it burns for 3 minutes. They calculate the mass lost when...
Rochester Institute of Technology
Molecules and Fuel Cell Technology
A fuel cell is where the jailer keeps gas guzzlers. Scholars review chemical reactions, chemical bonds, and chemical structure in order to apply these concepts. Participants construct fuel cell kits, using electrolysis to run the car and...
Concord Consortium
Dissolving
What happens to substances when they dissolve in water? Young scientists investigate the dissolving process with a colorful interactive. The resource illustrates changes in potential energy as solute particles interact with water...
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.
Curated OER
VSEPR Theory: Predicting the 3-D Shapes of Molecules
In this VSEPR theory learning exercise, students draw the Lewis structures for 5 molecules, they build the molecule, sketch the structure, show the bond angles and name the molecule. They also answer a question about the VSEPR theory and...
Curated OER
Matter: Atoms and Molecules
Students investigate how information about the atom has been determined. In this atomic structure lesson, students draw what they think an atom looks like. They conduct Internet research about the types of atomic models and how...
Curated OER
Elements And Atoms
Students investigate the concept of elements and atoms. They conduct research using a variety of resources and use the information in order to create a class presentation. The activity includes specific dialogue and steps for the teacher...
Curated OER
Static Electricity 1: Introducing Atoms
Middle schoolers explore webpages to research the nature of atoms, including electrons, protons, and neutrons. This lesson is the first of a four-part series on static electricity. They see that static electricity involves + and - charges.