Atoms Unit Part 1: Atoms, Atomic Particle, Mass, Atomic Number, Isotopes

This unit includes 6 lessons of about 50 minutes and 12 page work bundle. The work bundle chronologically follows the entire set of interactive slideshows (hundreds and hundreds of amazing slides). Students record fill-in notes on the red slides, answer questions, conduct activities, collect periodic data, and take assessments all in the work bundle. The slideshows are engaging and interactive throughout.

The PowerPoint begins asking the student to describe how small the atom is? They generally respond with small etc. An activity with directions included in the PowerPoint has the students cut a piece of paper in half as many times as possible. After they get to about 11 they cannot go any further. A series of slides goes into the sub-atomic and shows how if they were to cut it about 79 more times they would close to the size of the atom. A journal question asks them to describe what else they know about the atom? A great link to a Carl Sagan clip from the Cosmos is provided. Actual pictures of atoms are then shown from an Atomic Force Microscope, and links to Khan Academy for those interested. The History of understanding the Atom with explaining the Crookes Tube, J.J Thompson's Plumb Pudding Model, and an extensive description of Ernest Rutherford's Gold Foil Experiment are provided. A series of challenge slides where students have to guess the shape hidden beneath a box based on the way particles reflect is provided. The fundamental particles of the atom are then explained in a step by step sequence. A series of challenge based questions make students demonstrate their understanding of these sub atomic particles. A visual quiz 1-10 is built into the slide show and students must name the sub-atomic particle, write the word atom, or nucleus. The answers are provided after the quiz. The question is previewed before the answer is revealed so the teacher can call upon students. A neat game called pin the tail on the electron is provided. When the student walks up the board it appears sticking the pin on the electron will be easy. Teacher advances the slide and the electron jumps all over the place. This leads into the Heinsberg Uncertainty Principle. Students then create their best atom following Bohr's Atomic Cloud Model by making a dense nucleus and then tapping their pencil 500 times all around it. Atomic Number is then described and students are presented a series of challenge questions. The Neutron and the Nucleus are then described in a series of step by step notes. Isotopes are addressed. Students then learn how to find the number of Neutrons by subtracting the Atomic Number by the Atomic Mass. They are then presented another series of challenge questions to demonstrate their understanding. Next students are presented an element and they must record the name of the element, atomic number, number of protons, electrons, and neutrons, and atomic mass. They are given small clues to help them along. Answers are provided each step of the way. The PowerPoint concludes with a fun Periodic Table challenge where students are given a clue and they need to find the correct element from the Periodic Table (Students should have access to their own Periodic Table of the Elements). Answers to the challenge are provided at the end. This is a fantastic PowerPoint that involves the students from beginning to end.

This PowerPoint includes critical notes (Red Slides), exciting visuals, challenge questions, activities with directions and more. Text is usually placed at the top of the slide so it can be read from all angles of a classroom. Color coded slides, as well as a shade technique is used to increase student focus and allows the teacher to control the pace of the lesson. These PowerPoints are meant to be interactive as possible and ask many questions, provides built in review opportunities, explains directions to activities, and much more.