Activity
Yahoo, the Atom! Building a Model of the Atom with the Help of the Internet
Subject
Math, Science & Technology, Science (NYS P-12)
Grade Levels
Commencement, 9th Grade, 10th Grade, 11th Grade
Assessment
Assessment is based on rubrics for the atomic model and application questions.
Author
Maria Russo, Cohoes High School—adapted from Marc Rossner, Teaching Science with the Internet.
Duration
1 week
Description
Objectives:
- Students will name the fundamental particles of matter and list their properties.
- Students will model atomic structure.
- Students will link historical discovery to scientific understanding.
Activity:
- Teacher reviews with students the basic subatomic particles—their names, mass, charge, and location.
- Teacher models the size of an atom by comparing it to a marble in a football field or a basketball in the center of a basketball court.
- Teacher directs students to The Particle Adventures website at http://ParticleAdventure.org . This site reveals that there are even more fundamental particles than the three covered in high school chemistry class.
- Teachers make some quick notations for the students on particular like quarks.
- Students work in pairs to create a real scale model of an atom by researching the actual masses and dimensions involved, and making the parts of the model proportional to the actual atom.
Website(s)
The Particle Adventures
Contemporary Physics Education Project (Additional Website for Students to visit)
Materials / Resources
- Styrofoam balls of varying sizes
- Periodic table
- Colored pencils/markers
- Computers with Internet access
- Web site: http://ParticleAdventure.org
Source
Russo, Maria. “Yahoo, the Atom! Building a Model of the Atom with the Help of the Internet.” In Career Development and Occupational Studies (CDOS) Resource Guide with Core Curriculum. New York State Department of Education, 185.
