Partnerships Implementing Engineering Education
Worcester Polytechnic Institute – Worcester Public Schools
Supported by: National Science Foundation
Atoms and Molecules: 6.E.1
Modeling Molecules: Atoms & Molecules
Grade Level
6
Sessions
Seasonality
Instructional Mode(s)
Team Size
WPS Benchmarks
1 – approximately 70 minutes
N/A
Group and Independent Activity
4-5 students
06.SC.PS.09
06.SC.PS.10
06.SC.PS.11
06.SC.PS.12
06.SC.PS.13
6-8.PS.5
6-8.PS.6
6-8.PS.7
Atom, Electron, Elements, Molecule, Proton
MA Frameworks
Key Words
Summary
Students will learn the difference between atoms and molecules and use brainstorming
and engineering techniques to design and create their own molecule. Students will be
given Styrofoam balls of various shapes and sizes representing different atoms. They
will use these to construct various molecules to visualize molecule structure. As an
activity the students will be asked to brainstorm and construct their own molecule and
present it in groups.
Learning Objectives
2002 Worcester Public Schools (WPS) Benchmarks for Grade 6
06.SC.PS.09 Recognize that there are more than 100 elements that combine in the
multitude of ways to produce compounds that make up all the living and nonliving things
that we encounter.
06.SC.PS.10 Demonstrate with atomic models (eg., ball and stick) how atoms can
combine in a large number of ways. Explain why the number of combinations is large,
but still limited. Use models to demonstrate the conservation of mass in the chemical
reactions being modeled.
1
Partnerships Implementing Engineering Education
Worcester Polytechnic Institute – Worcester Public Schools
Supported by: National Science Foundation
06.SC.PS.11 Differentiate between an atom (the smallest unit of an element that
maintains the characteristics of that element) and a molecule (the smallest unit of a
compound that maintains the characteristics of a compound).
06.SC.PS.12 Use atomic models (or Lego blocks, assigning various colors to various
atoms) to build molecules of water, sodium chloride, carbon dioxide, ammonia, etc.
06.SC.PS.13 Give basic examples of elements and compounds.
Additional Learning Objectives
1. 6-8.PS.5 Recognize that there are more than 100 elements that combine in a
multitude of ways to produce compounds that make up all of the living and
nonliving things that we encounter.
2. 6-8.PS.6 Differentiate between an atom (the smallest unit of an element that
maintains the characteristics of that element) and a molecule (the smallest unit of
a compound that maintains the characteristics of that compound).
3. 6-8.PS.7 Give basic examples of elements and compounds.
4. The students will begin to understand how atoms and molecules make up the
world around them.
5. The students will begin to understand how there are so many combinations of
atoms that are still left undiscovered which could help people.
Required Background Knowledge
Be familiar with the parts of an atom.
Essential Questions
What is an atom and how is it different from a molecule?
Introduction / Motivation
Tell the students that today they will be building molecules out of Styrofoam balls and
toothpicks.
Procedure
The instructor will:
2
Partnerships Implementing Engineering Education
Worcester Polytechnic Institute – Worcester Public Schools
Supported by: National Science Foundation
1. Have the students complete The Atom worksheet to refresh atomic structure
(see attachment) (20 minutes).
2. Have the students break into small groups (at most 4 groups).
o Distribute to each group the following amount of Styrofoam balls:
5:
Hydrogen
1:
Carbon
1:
Nitrogen
3:
Oxygen
1:
Sodium
1:
Chlorine
o Tell the students that each Styrofoam ball represents an atom and which
atom is designated to each size ball. Explain that the size of an atom is
measured by the number of protons in the atom. (5 minutes)
o Chopsticks will be used to join the atoms. When atoms are joined they will
form a molecule.
o Have the students attach two hydrogen balls to an oxygen ball using
chopsticks as shown:
o Tell the students that this arrangement of two hydrogen atoms and one
oxygen atom produce one molecule of water. Explain to the students that
there are more than trillions of these molecules in a single glass of water.
(5 mins)
o Next have the students attach two oxygen atoms to one carbon atom. As
shown above. Explain to the students that this arrangement of atoms
3
Partnerships Implementing Engineering Education
Worcester Polytechnic Institute – Worcester Public Schools
Supported by: National Science Foundation
produce one molecule of carbon dioxide. These are the molecules which
humans exhale and plants take in. (5 mins)
o Next have the students attach three hydrogen balls to a nitrogen ball. Tell
the students that this arrangement produces a molecule of ammonia.
Explain that these molecules make up the solution that is used to clean
and sanitize. This molecule is also very deadly to humans. (5 mins)
o Finally have the students attach one sodium ball to a chlorine ball. Tell the
students that this arrangement produces a molecule of sodium chloride.
Explain to the students that this is the everyday salt that you put on your
food. (5 mins)
o Make a note to the students that there are over 100 different atoms called
the elements listed in the periodic table that are known which combine in a
multitude of ways to produce different molecules or compounds which
make up all the living and nonliving things we encounter each day.
3. As a final activity the students will brainstorm, design, and build their own
molecules.
•
Have the student brainstorm ideas for ideas for functions for their new
molecules. (Possible ideas could be molecules that make vaccines for
diseases or something that causes people or plants to have super
abilities.) (10 mins)
•
Next have the student draw a picture of what the molecule will look
like. Tell them that they can only use the balls that are provided, but
can use as many as they wish. Have the student name the molecule.
(10 mins)
•
Have the students one at a time in each group make their molecules
out of the Styrofoam balls and chopsticks. Have them show their
molecules to their group members and have them explain their name
and function. (15 mins)
•
This final activity can be either done in the small groups in class or as
an individual homework assignment. If used as a homework
assignment the students can brainstorm and produce a picture of their
4
Partnerships Implementing Engineering Education
Worcester Polytechnic Institute – Worcester Public Schools
Supported by: National Science Foundation
molecule at home and in groups the next day have each student show
their group or the class one at a time their molecule and what its
function is.
Materials List
Materials per class
Amount
Location
Styrofoam balls
48
Local craft store
Chopsticks
>100
Supermarket
Vocabulary with Definitions (in alphabetical order)
1. Atom- The smallest component of an element having the chemical properties of
the element, consisting of a positively charged nucleus of neutrons and protons
that exerts an electrical attraction on one or more electrons in motion around it.
2. Electron- A negatively charged particle that whizzes around the nucleus of an
atom.
3. Elements- Classifications of atoms based on characteristics such as size, weight,
and composition.
4. Molecule- Combination of atoms which together produce its own set of
characteristics.
5. Proton- A basic particle in an atom’s nucleus that has a positive electrical charge.
Assessment / Evaluation of Students
The instructor may assess the students in any/all of the following manners:
1. Check The Atom worksheet used as a refresh on atom structure.
2. Evaluate individual student’s creativity in the create-your-own-molecule activity.
Lesson Extensions
The instructor might use this lesson as an introduction to the other lessons in this unit.
Attachments
1. The Atom worksheet
2. Periodic Table of Elements
5
Partnerships Implementing Engineering Education
Worcester Polytechnic Institute – Worcester Public Schools
Supported by: National Science Foundation
Troubleshooting Tips
None
Safety Issues
None
Additional Resources
None
Key Words
Atom, Electron, Elements, Molecule, Proton
6
The Atom
Name____________________________________ Date___________________
1. Label the atom in the picture above.
2. What makes up the nucleus of an atom? What charges make up the nucleus?
3. The picture above is a/an ___________________ atom. (Hint: Use your periodic
table to find this answer.)
4. What is the difference between atomic weight and atomic number?
5. Out of the three components labeled above, which have the smallest mass?
6. How would you make an isotope of the atom above?
7. In the picture seen below, what is the “cloud” around the nucleus? Why is it
drawn this way?