Activity

Atomic Mobile

Curated and Reviewed by Lesson Planet

Structure an activity around atoms. Learners use their knowledge of the parts of atoms—the protons, neutrons, and electrons—to build a model of a carbon atom. Scholars create a nucleus by using clay balls to represent the protons and neutrons. They then create electron shells using pipe cleaners and placing small bolls of clay on them to represent the electrons.

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Additional Tags
Instructional Ideas
  • Research the number of electrons in each shell
  • Ask individuals to build different atoms at home and share them with the rest of the class
Classroom Considerations
  • Requires three different colors of clay and wire or pipe cleaners
Pros
  • Includes a PDF of the Periodic Table
  • Provides pictures to illustrate each step of the model building
Cons
  • None