I’m not totally sure why my students struggle with particle diagrams. To me, it was always super easy to understand. I’ve found a great way to help students with particle diagrams and it really was as simple as putting together some Google Slides.
Classification of Matter as a Way to Teach Particle Diagrams
I know that many people will try to help their students with particle diagrams by teaching them classification of matter and assuming they can figure it out. I was guilty of that for a while. In actuality, I glued some colored beads to paper in order to illustrate elements, compounds and mixtures. But there were some issues with that. The beads would fall off, and therefore change my images. A compound would become a mixture due to the missing beads. They were tough to store. I had to hang them up on the walls and do a gallery walk. Kids had no way to self assess.
I’ve since upgraded my particle diagrams to be something a bit more fun and engaging. And most of all, this resource truly helps my students with particle diagrams. Even beyond the context of just classification of matter: element, compound and mixture. And (perhaps this counts as bonus points…) it’s a digital activity for help with particle diagrams.
Particle Diagrams Digital Activity
I created a Secret Puzzle activity. This has 12 different particle diagrams. Each particle diagram had to be identified as a solid, liquid or gas, and then by the class of matter: diatomic element, monatomic element, binary compound, tertiary compound, heterogeneous mixture or homogeneous mixture. All of the particle diagrams were unique from each other. Meaning the kids get really good practice. The best part about this being digital is that it was more or less permanent. No more beads falling off and changing my answer key! Plus we can do it from any location, and kids can make a new copy to start over or study for a test.
So what does it look like? On each slide, there is a piece of a photograph. The student then decides how to classify the particle diagram, and copy and paste the photo chunk on the puzzle slide. They will place this piece of the puzzle in the space that corresponds with their answer.
Self Assessment Activity for Particle Diagrams
The puzzle allows the students to use the puzzle pieces to self assess. If their puzzle place winds up in a weird spot, they’ll know their answer is wrong and needs to be checked on. I seriously love this activity for helping students with particle diagrams. The students are better able to work with the activity and check on themselves which deepens their learning. Secret puzzles are great for this in general, but they are especially great for particle diagrams and getting my students well versed in classification of matter.
There are some classes that don’t work well at the computer. They’re a bit more rambunctious and need to be up and moving around the room. I will also print the slides and allow the students to gallery walk the images just like I used to. More often than not, I will offer both versions to my students, allowing them some choice in the matter.
After the activity, (some years before – depends on the kids) I post these posters in my classroom. It’s a small visual reminder of the classes of matter. Snag them for free, by signing up here.
