This lesson introduces students to scientific models. The students will learn how models of the atom have changed as new evidence is gathered. The students will also learn about the current model of the atom. Each student will make a model of an atom of a different element.

This app for iPad devices is a fully interactive atomistic simulation that shows the motions of atoms as they attract, repel, and collide with one another. With the tap or swipe of a finger, students can add, delete, or highlight molecules, as well as increase/decrease temperature, pressure, or volume and explore the states of matter. An associated simulation, Salts, allows students to manipulate atoms and ions to join to form crystals.

This diagram shows the relationship between the nuclear binding energy of an isotope and its atomic mass.

This lesson reinforces concepts about atomic structure. Using their copy of the periodic table of the elements, gumdrops, toothpicks, a model wave three wavelengths long, and a calculator, each student will construct a correct model of the magnesium atom.

In this lesson, students will work in small groups to read and analyze a primary source using a set of questions designed to help them understand the writers' viewpoints. Students will then explain their findings to their classmates. Finally, each student will produce a written essay that explains how and why scientific understanding of the atom has changed over time.

This lesson looks at the compositions and structure of diamonds and basic mineral structures formed by the bonds in the crystal structures created by nature. The students have an extensive hands-on lab experience with crystal growth from two very different processes, all recorded on video for later analysis. They also use the internet for a short introductory lesson to crystal systems and use the Nature Video “Diamonds” to tie their knowledge back to real life.

This resource is a part of the Diamonds Are Forever-Most of the Time lesson plan. This resource provides step by step ways for teachers to implement the lesson.

This resource is a part of the Diamonds Are Forever--Most of the Time lesson plan. This resource includes links to student resources for the lesson.

In this activity, students will investigate basic electron structure by making a model of the electron structure using pennies representing electrons in different sized filter papers to represent energy levels, for an atom or ion, at various workstations. Students will place the pennies (electrons) in the appropriate energy levels, and record the number of electrons in each energy level on a data table.

In this lab activity, students are given a random sample of the fictitious element "M&Mium." The sample contains at least three different isotopes of M&Mium. The students will design and carry out a procedure to determine the average atomic mass of the element M&Mium.

In this activity students apply what they have learned about weighted averages, isotopes, and systems of equations to a new situation...coins in a sealed container. They learn some historical information regarding the composition of pennies and then are faced with a challenge: to determine the number of pre-1982 and post-1982 pennies that are contained in a sealed container without opening the container. After they determine the number of each type of penny contained in their canister, they will be asked to compare the pennies to isotopes.

Isotopes and Atomic MassGiving us credit when you use our content and technology is not just important for legal reasons. When you provide attribution to CK-12 Foundation, you support the ability of our non-profit organization to make great educational experiences available to students around the world.Our Creative Commons License welcomes you to use our content and technology when you give us attribution. If you have any questions about our policies, contact us at support@ck12.org

Sample Learning Goals
Define “isotope” using mass number, atomic number, number of protons, neutrons and electrons.
Given information about an element, find the mass and name of an isotope.
Give evidence to support or dispute: “In nature, the chance of finding one isotope of an element is the same for all isotopes.”
Find the average atomic mass of an element given the abundance and mass of its isotopes.
Predict how the mass and name of an isotope will change given a change in the number of protons, neutrons or electrons.
Predict how the average atomic mass of an element changes given a change in the abundance of its isotopes.

This simulation provides practice in building Lewis Dot Structures from atoms and ionic compounds from the component ions.

Matter MattersGiving us credit when you use our content and technology is not just important for legal reasons. When you provide attribution to CK-12 Foundation, you support the ability of our non-profit organization to make great educational experiences available to students around the world.Our Creative Commons License welcomes you to use our content and technology when you give us attribution. If you have any questions about our policies, contact us at support@ck12.org

In this activity, students use a map of electron configuration (patterned after the Bohr model) and round markers (bingo chips or other similar object) to configure electrons for assigned elements.

The Nuclear Model of the AtomGiving us credit when you use our content and technology is not just important for legal reasons. When you provide attribution to CK-12 Foundation, you support the ability of our non-profit organization to make great educational experiences available to students around the world.Our Creative Commons License welcomes you to use our content and technology when you give us attribution. If you have any questions about our policies, contact us at support@ck12.org 

In this lesson, students will define the terms isotopes, atomic number, mass number and atomic mass as well as being able to determine the number of subatomic particles in the isotope of an element.

An interactive periodic table that provides not just the basic information, but also information about where the element can be found and how it is used.