The Arizona STEM Acceleration Project

3D Modeling Atoms from the Atomic Theory Timeline Using Tinkercad

3D Modeling Atoms from the Atomic Theory Timeline Using Tinkercad

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A 6,7,8th grade STEM lesson

Author: Tim Malan

Date: 10/24/2023

Notes for teachers

Students can fill out the timeline in a variety of ways. You can teach them about each of the scientists, or if you feel unprepared there is a great video the students can watch on Youtube titled “Mystery of Matter - Into the Atom” that does a great job explaining the process.

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They can fill out the timeline on Google Slides or you can have them cut and glue the labels on with hard copy paper.

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For the 3D modeling you can have them “Copy and Tinker” the template that I have provided. You are going to have to familiarize yourself with some 3D modeling basics.

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Possible Part 2 to this lesson- click here

List of Materials

• Laptops
• Atomic Theory and Models Timeline
• Tinkercad 3D modeling template to copy

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Standards

Educational Technology

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1. Empowered Learner - Students leverage technology to take an active role in choosing, achieving, and demonstrating competency in their learning goals, informed by the learning sciences.

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4. Innovative Designer - Students use a variety of technologies within a design process to identify and solve problems by creating new, useful or imaginative solutions.

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Science

6.P1U1.3 Develop and use models to represent that matter is made up of smaller particles called atoms

8.P1U1.1 Develop and use a model to demonstrate that atoms and molecules can be combined or rearranged in chemical reactions to form new compounds with the total number of each type of atom conserved.

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Objectives: Students will be able describe how the model of the atom evolved by completing a timeline and then by 3D modeling each new model.

Agenda

The teacher will give direct instruction or have students watch the Into the Atom film on Youtube and fill out their organizer. I would do this either by teacher for about 10 minutes then pausing and have them work with their partner to cut and glue the next part of the model on their timeline, and then repeat. (50 minutes)

Students then log into Tinkercad and copy the 3D Template. (10 minutes)

Teacher teaches the basics of 3D modeling. Some examples are: 1. using the dice to move around. 2. Grouping using Ctrl+G, Aligning using (L), Dropping using (D), etc. If you want there are hotkey videos on Youtube.

Depending on the levels of students you have, you can either have them to try to create the models from scratch or you can use what I have created in my template as a starting place. If you are using my template have them move the components of each model together and then move the model onto the podium in the back (60 minutes).

Intro

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The teacher will have students work on filling out the timeline on Google Slides or printed out. The timeline is a background so students cannot delete it accidentally.

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Then students can move the components on the next screen onto the timeline. These components are all draggable.

Answer Key

Here is an answer key for the teachers.

Hands-on Activity Instructions

• Students use their laptops to 3D model the models in the atomic theory using the template provided and the hotkeys they learned from the teacher or a youtube video.
• Students need to combine the components. For example, in photo two they need to put the electrons into the positive sphere for the Plum Pudding model.
• For advanced students or if your students have experience 3D modeling, they can make these from scratch.

Assessment

Here is a rubric for how to score their 3D models.

Differentiation

Have students 3D model fewer of the models on the template. For example they can choose 3 out of the 5 models.

Remediation

Extension/Enrichment

Students can model from scratch and shoot for the advanced columns on the rubric.