Atoms are the building blocks of everything around us and an endless source of fascination for scientific explorers of all ages.
This collection of engaging lessons features creative atom models, fun games to learn about subatomic particles and electrical charges, experiments with model catalysts, and educational videos about the periodic table of elements.
1. Atomic Structure Activity
This easy hands-on activity, requiring nothing more than playdough and sticky notes, helps kids visualize the three subatomic particles that make up the basic structure of an atom.
Age Group: Elementary
Learn More: Tinas Dynamic Homeschool Plus
2. Watch an Educational TED Video
This short and educational video uses stellar animation and creative analogies, including a blueberry, to help kids imagine the size of an atom and the three main subatomic particles.
Age Group: Elementary, Middle School
Learn More: Ted
3. Atoms and Molecules Stations
This invaluable resource includes colorful task cards for eight different stations to teach students about the classic Bohr model of the atom, the chemical properties of alpha particles and beta particles, and the catalytic properties of specific elements.
Age Group: Elementary
Learn More: What I Have Learned Teaching
4. Make Candy Molecules with Gumdrops and Small-Sized Cards
This creative hands-on activity uses small-sized cards and gumdrops to teach students the main parts of the atom and how they are organized into molecules. Students get to create their own oxygen atom and learn its important role as the basis for carbon dioxide and water molecules.
Age Group: Elementary
Learn More: Playdough To Plato
5. Learn About Electrical Charge
This STEM activity requires only cellophane tape and a paperclip to demonstrate that all particles have an electric charge. Students will learn about the positive charge of protons and the negative charge of neutrons as well as the electronic properties of all atoms.
Age Group: Elementary, Middle School
Learn More: Quarked
6. Atomic Structure Activity
This video features middle school students creating a human model of the atom, offering kids a concrete anchor for visualizing each of the subatomic particles.
Age Group: Elementary, Middle School
Learn More: Owen Hoegh
7. Conduct an Oxygen Reduction Reaction Catalyst Experiment
After watching a video about catalytic activity, students conduct a hands-on reinforcement activity to see how a high-activity hydrogen catalyst can increase the decomposition rate of hydrogen peroxide.
Age Group: Middle School, High School
Learn More: Middle School Chemistry
8. Learn About Electrochemical Water Oxidation
In this multi-part lesson, students will learn about reduction with water oxidation through an animated video followed by additional practice with flashcards to test their understanding.
Age Group: Highschool
Learn More: Nagwa
9. Learn About Graphene For Hydrogen Generation
Graphene is a flexible and transparent conductor of heat and electricity, making it an excellent option for developing new technologies. Students will complete a hands-on reinforcement activity where they will make their very own graphene and learn about nitrogen-doped graphene materials.
Age Group: Highschool
Learn More: Outreach
10. Nitrogen Cycle Game
An important property of nitrogen is its role as a component of amino acids, which are the building blocks of life on Earth. This nitrogen cycle game teaches students all about its magnetic properties, and role as surface sediment, as well as introduces them to nitrogen-doped carbon materials.
Age Group: Middle School, Highschool
Learn More: My Nasa Data
11. Learn About Electrocatalysts for Oxygen Reduction
This educational series features a video, slideshow, worksheet, and in-class project to teach students about efficient water oxidation, non-precious metal oxygen electro reduction catalysts, and the catalytic properties of materials for oxygen reduction.
Age Group: Highschool
Learn More: Teachers The National Academy
12. Study the Elements in the Periodic Table
This incredibly rich TED resource features a video for each of the elements in the periodic table. Students will learn that each of these elements is composed of neutral atoms, since they have an equal number of negative charge (the electrons) and positive electric charge (the protons), creating a total electric charge of zero.
Age Group: Middle School, Highschool
Learn More: Ted
13. Create an Edible Model of the Atom
After locating their atom of choice on the periodic table, kids can get creative using marshmallows, chocolate chips, and other edible treats to represent each of the three subatomic particles.
Age Group: Preschool, Elementary
Learn More: Preschool Powol Packets
14. Sing a Song About Atoms
This catchy song about the properties of atoms can be combined with creative dance moves to reinforce student learning.
Age Group: Elementary, Middle School
Learn More: Jam Campus
15. Build an Atomic Model for the First Twenty Elements
This printable set of task cards features a Bohr atomic model for the first twenty elements of the periodic table. They can be used to study each of the subatomic particles separately or as a basis for designing 3D models.
Age Group: Elementary, Middle School
Learn More: Teach Beside Me
16. Learn About States of Matter
In these creative, hands-on lessons, students represent the arrangement of atoms in solid, liquid, and gas states.
Age Group: Elementary
Learn More: 20 Fun and Educational States of Matter Activities
17. Try a Game of Ionic Speed Dating
This hands-on activity challenges students to find ions that work together to form compounds. Students have two minutes at each of the various stations before submitting their final list of ionic compound formulas.
Learn More: Chemedx
18. Go on a Periodic Table Scavenger Hunt
Students are sure to love using these task cards to learn about the properties of different elements, including which everyday items contain certain elements and which ones are found in the human body.
Age Group: Elementary, Middle School, Highschool
Learn More: Scavenger Hunt Ideas
19. Learn About Isotopes with a Fun Game
Atoms that have additional neutrons in their nucleus are called isotopes. This fun game helps students understand this tricky concept using M&Ms and a printable game board.
Age Group: Middle School, Highschool
Learn More: Elemental Science
20. Read and Discuss Picture Books about Atoms
This set of books about atoms introduces students to Pete the Proton and his friends who teach them about molecules, compounds, and the periodic table.
Age Group: Preschool, Elementary
Learn More: Amazon
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