The History of the Atom can be a super boring concept for first year chemistry students. During my first year teaching it was kind of a miserable topic to teach but has slowly become one of my favorites. I get my students to identify the models of the atom quickly and easily by having them work with the various models in different ways. Here are 5 engaging ways to teach the history of the atom.
History of the Atom Interactive Notebook
At the beginning of the Atomic Theory Unit, I teach the History of the Atom using guided notes. They learn all the atomic models at one time. This sort of sets them up for everything that is to come and gets them excited for the different models. It also gets them to see how the atomic models have changed over time with new technologies and discoveries.
It brings up a great discussion about the validity of models and the idea that science is only as good as it can be for the time. I often talk about the advancements to calculators, computers or phones to help them make connections to their real life. Even if you just talk about the iphone, most kids can see the changes made as technology has become more advanced.
History of the Atom Lab Activity
The next thing we do is differentiate atomic models by their most prominent features. I do this by giving my students a bag of treats: a marshmallow, a Tootsie Pop or Blow Pop, a Gobstopper (mini jawbreaker), a gumball and a chocolate chip cookie. They then need to decide which treat matches each model of the atom and give a thoughtful justification. This really engages them to identify prominent differences in the atomic models. You can read more about this specific lab activity in this post.
Rutherford Model Gold Foil Experiment Simulation
Teaching the Rutherford Model of the atom is a great way to REALLY introduce the concept of indirect observation. Which is a critical part of chemistry. I find it helps the kids to open up to the idea of studying things they can’t see. And that’s what chemistry is all about, right?
We do a pretty cool lab where the students need to throw ping pong balls, representing alpha particles at the Rutherford model I have made out of a hula-hoop, a Styrofoam ball and some string (which represents a single gold atom). I have more details about this specific lab activity on my Rutherford Lab blog post.
Most of the ping pong balls go straight through the hula-hoop, just like the alpha particles and the gold foil. This gives the kids a chance to see the things that Rutherford couldn’t. Plus, I can only imagine how fun it must be to throw ping pong balls toward (at) your teacher. You can purchase the lab activity here.
Electron Excitation Analogy
In another guided notes lesson, I teach electron excitation using an analogy. Electrons live in the orbitals like people live in an apartment building with no elevator. They prefer to be at lower levels so they don’t have to climb the stairs. Electrons, just like people would prefer their own room, and only share if they really have to. I hope you picked up the analogy for both the Aufbau Principle and Hund’s Rule. #teacherwin!
At some point, the whole building throws a party in the penthouse apartment. The electrons drink some Red Bull to get enough energy to party all night and climb all those stairs. (Red Bull gives them wings, of course!) Once the party is over, electrons have to give up their party energy and head home, thus giving off all their energy (in the form of light).
Flame Test Lab
This was certainly my favorite lab in high school. It is the one that turned me into a chemist. I love teaching the Bohr model alongside some electron excitation. Try to tell me that the science of fireworks is boring. Here is how to set up a flame test lab:
Flame Test Lab Set Up
- Collect all the chloride salts you have in your stockroom. Mine are (mostly) solutions, but if you need to make a flame test solution, I would recommend a 1 molar solution. You can probably get away with just 20-30 mL of each solution.
- Soak wooden splints (COFFEE STIRRERS) in the solutions over night. The longer they soak the wetter they are. When they are wet, the splint takes a longer time to catch fire, which keeps the orange flame out of your flame test for a bit longer.
- If you have the opportunity to buy chlorides, here is what I think is coolest:
- Sodium chloride is the easiest to come by and of course is the lamest orange color. It is cool to turn the blue cone into orange, but the kids sort of expect it. Start with this one when you do the lab, considering it is the least impressive
- Strontium chloride gives a sweet deep orangey red flame
- Barium chloride gives a lime-ish color, which the kids love
- Potassium chloride is a lavender color which is awesome, but can be hard to see when mixed in with the blue flame of a Bunsen burner – make sure the room is dark so you can see this one well.
- Copper chloride (obviously) – the most beautiful blue green color
- If your students have never lit a Bunsen burner before, I’d start there. I have a lab activity on that if you are interested in them learning all the parts of the burner and getting practice lighting it on their own.
Have Fun with It
These are some of my favorite ways to teach the different models of the atom and show how they’ve changed over time. The history of the atom is very difficult for kids to understand because they’re learning about things they’ve never seen before. They need to understand that the atom hasn’t changed, just our understanding of it has. You can get a majority of these activities in my History of the Atom Bundle.
You’re teaching chemistry because it’s fun! Remember that!! I hope that you and your students enjoy these super engaging atomic model activities as much as me and my students do!
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