The Arizona STEM Acceleration Project

Modeling Substances using Element Atom Tiles

Modeling Substances using Element Atom Tiles

A 8th grade STEM lesson

Cassandra

Cordts

​

June 20, 2024

Notes for teachers

• In my classroom I have a set of magnetic circles that have the chemical elements on them. We use them to model on the board how atoms rearrange in substances. I have cardboard student tiles but they tend to walk off and are difficult to manage as a whole class activity. I use them in small groups with students who struggle and as an additional support have made non black and white copies and had students color them in for personal use/to keep if they need them as a support throughout this chunk of our unit.
• Keeping up the pace and circling the room is important with this lesson so you can catch misunderstandings early. This is a lesson where I will occasionally give big hints and explain that we will learn the why/how in a bit once we have this concept down for students if they need to narrow the scope to understand.

List of Materials

• Student computers or iPads
• Student slides- at the end of this presentation
• Copy of Slides for Teacher- at the end
• Copies of worksheets
• colored pencils
• tupperwares of legos
• magnetic teacher atom slides
• student atom tiles for students who need tactile support

Standards

Science

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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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Technology

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6-8.1.d. - Students navigate a

variety of technologies and

transfer their skills to troubleshoot

and learn how to use new

technologies.

• ​
• ​

Standards

ELA

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8.W.1- Write arguments to support claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence.

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Math

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8.MP.4 - Model with mathematics.

8.MP.3 - Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others.

Objectives:

Students will be able to build and use models to represent a substance as well as explain and support their claims about how many atoms and how many elements are in a substance.

Students will be able to use chemical formulas to identify and communicate information about a substance.

Agenda (lesson time)

Intro/Driving Question/Opening

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How do atoms combine to form new substances?

Can you build multiple things using the same ‘blocks’?

Hands-on Activity Instructions

• Students should sit at tables of 2 or 4 for best partner work and table discussions.
• A projector to show slides, videos, models will be very helpful.
• Students will have independent worksheets but I encourage them to help one another in ‘figuring’ out how the models work.
• I will pull a few kids at a time if they are struggling to practice with small student tiles or the big magnetic board tiles based on situation.

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• Go over directions/expectations. Legos are a temping tool, I go over my expectations in detail.
• Model how worksheet works. Circulate the room frequently. Try and catch misconceptions early. Adding reminders to the whole class is inevitable. I tend to loudly thank the student who I see making a mistake for reminding me of information I need to share to make it easier (with the goal of me taking the blame for the mistake and drawing attention to the whole class to make corrections of a misconception.)
• A common error to look for it the atom tiles not touching.

Assessment

Student model samples from their slides can be used as an informal assessment of learning.

This lesson would be best followed by continuing to look at substance models in other situations. My next lesson in this series looks at a limewater reaction and we look at a baking soda and vinegar (volcano) reaction.

Differentiation

I have paper and digital copies of this lab for flexibility for student needs.

​

I have included printable student tiles for students who need to be able to handle the tiles and move them around for this concept to make sense - while not always necessary for this lesson when we move on to conservation in reactions it may be important for tactile students.

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Pulling small groups or individuals for additional examples may be necessary.

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Remediation

Extension/Enrichment

Students can build additional substances we have studied in this unit.

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Have students begin to think forward to how the concept of legos/building blocks might apply to the chemical reactions we have studied.

​

Have students look into how different bonds form different structures in substances in the natural world. This could easily be an extension with an artistic component.

Student Work Slides

I use google slides to create a digital notebook with my students. Most days I use a copy of the same presentation that I have added animations and extra informational slides to if necessary. I have attached my student slides for this lesson to the slides that follow.

Good Morning!

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Get out your computer

but do not open it!

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At your table is a tray of legos.

Get 5 of them in front of you!

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Build something out of your 5 legos.

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Show (and maybe tell) your shoulder partner what you made!

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Now make something different! You must use the same legos and use all of them!

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Show (and maybe tell) your shoulder partner what you made!

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​

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Trade some legos with your shoulder partner. Here are the rules:

-You must have at least 1 of your ..original legos.

-Each person needs at least two legos ..in their build.

-All 10 legos

..must be used.

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Show (and maybe tell) your TABLE what you made!

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​

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Were you able to build multiple shapes with the legos?

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​

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Why were you able to do that?

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1. Separate all of the legos.
2. Place them back in the jar.
3. Have the person at the blue spot bring them to the front table.
4. Open your computer, open 9.1 Substance Models,

and work on

Slide ONE.

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​

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Substance Models

FQ: How do atoms combine to form new substances?

Using your previous knowledge, how do you think atoms combine to form new substances?

Type here...

Were you able to build multiple shapes with the legos?

Type here...

​

​

Why were you able to do that?

Type here...

What do we know about what a substance is?

Every is a unique form of matter and has unique properties.

​

Substances are composed of .

​

Substances are defined by the kinds and numbers of elements from which they are .

​

Substances can be composed of one element, or two or more elements together.

​

Substances can be represented by a chemical .

substance

elements

composed

bonded

formula

All substances are made of elements. Particles of elements combine to make all substances. The basic particles of elements are called atoms.

​

Each element has its own unique atom. On this slide are representations of several different atoms. There is a hydrogen atom, a carbon atom, an oxygen atom, a sodium atom, and a chlorine atom. Every element in the periodic table has its own unique atom.

Atom:

​

Cl

C

Na

O

H

H

The smallest particle of an element.

​

​

​

Close your computer (just for a little while)!

Today we will focus on answering the question:

​

How do atoms combine to form new substances?

O

Here is a new particle. How many atoms have combined, and how many kinds of atoms have combined?

When two or more atoms of the same kind combine, it is an element. Any substance made of only one kind of atom is called an element.

O

This is a particle of the substance called ozone.

O

O

O

How many atoms have combined in this particle?

How many kinds of elements are in this particle?

Is ozone an element?

H

Here is another particle made of three atoms.

BOND

O

H

BOND

How many different kinds of atoms are in this particle?

Is it an element?

This is a representation of a water particle.

It is a combination of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. Any particle made of two or more different kinds of atoms is called a compound.

​

Any particle made of two or more different kinds of atoms.

O

H

H

BOND

BOND

H₂O

Compound:

How many substances on this periodic table are compounds? How do you know?

​

How many of the white substances we have studied are compounds?

​

How do you know?

​

​

How do the subscripts work?

When a subscript is used, it only applies to the symbol that immediately precedes it (right before it).

The ₂ in H₂O refers to the number of hydrogen atoms.

Two hydrogen atoms bond with one oxygen atom to form one particle of water.

​

But when two or more atoms are enclosed in parentheses, followed by a subscript number, the subscript applies to everything in the parentheses.

​

The chemical formula for calcium bicarbonate is:

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Ca(HCO₃)₂

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The subscript 3 only refers to the number of oxygen atoms.

The subscript 2 applies to ALL the atoms inside the parentheses.

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How many of each type of atom are there in one particle of calcium bicarbonate?

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Ca (calcium) -

H (hydrogen) -

O (oxygen) -

C (carbon) -

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Representing Substances

Representing Substances

C

1

1

Representing Substances

C

1

1

2

3

O

H

H

Representing Substances

C

1

1

2

3

O

H

H

C

O

O

2

3

H

C

O

Cl

Na

H

H

H

H

C

C

C

O

O

O

Cl

Cl

Cl

Na

Na

Na

​

​

​

Try the next three on your own.

​

Representing Substances

H

C

O

Cl

Na

H

H

H

H

C

C

C

O

O

O

Cl

Cl

Cl

Na

Na

Na

O

Representing Substances

Paste a copy of your worksheet here or attach it to this assignment!

Try it another way: Analyzing Substances

All matter is made of atoms, the basic particles of elements. There are 90 different types of atoms on the Earth, from which all substances in the world are made.

​

Atoms combine to make new substances. If the particles of a new substance are made of two or more atoms of one kind, the substance is still an element. If the particles of a new substance are made of two or more different kinds of atoms, the substance is a compound.

​

If the atoms in a particle are connected to each other with strong bonds, the particle is a molecule.

​

If atoms in a particle of a compound are connected to each other with a weak network of bonds, the particle is part of an ionic compound.

Molecule:

A particle made of two or more atoms that are held together with strong (covalent) bonds).

Ionic Compound:

A particle where atoms are connected to each other with a network of weak bonds.

​

Check What You Know!

​

What are the basic particles from which all matter is made?

Type here...

What is a compound?

Type here...

What kinds of particles are made of two or more kinds of atoms?

Type here...

What kind of particles are made of just one kind of atom?

Type here...

How are molecules and ionic compounds the same?

Type here...

How are they different?

Type here...

Atom Element Tiles

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Color Printable Personal Student Tiles

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Color Key:

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H - Blue

C- Orange

O-Red

Na -Yellow

Cl - Green

Ca -Purple

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Atom Element Tiles

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Black and White Printable Personal Student Tiles

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Color Key:

​

H - Blue

C- Orange

O-Red

Na -Yellow

Cl - Green

Ca -Purple

​

Student Work Slides

I use google slides to create a digital notebook with my students. Most days I use a copy of the same presentation that I have added animations and extra informational slides to if necessary. I have attached my student slides for this lesson to the slides that follow.

Substance Models

FQ: How do atoms combine to form new substances?

Using your previous knowledge, how do you think atoms combine to form new substances?

Type here...

Were you able to build multiple shapes with the legos?

Type here...

​

​

Why were you able to do that?

Type here...

What do we know about what a substance is?

Every type is a unique form of matter and has unique properties.

​

Substances are composed of type .

​

Substances are defined by the kinds and numbers of elements from which they are type .

​

Substances can be composed of one element, or two or more elements type together.

​

Substances can be represented by a chemical type .

All substances are made of elements. Particles of elements combine to make all substances. The basic particles of elements are called atoms.

​

Each element has its own unique atom. On this slide are representations of several different atoms. There is a hydrogen atom, a carbon atom, an oxygen atom, a sodium atom, and a chlorine atom. Every element in the periodic table has its own unique atom.

​

Today we will explore how atoms combine to make all substances on Earth.

Atom:

Type here...

Cl

C

Na

O

H

H

O

O

Here is a new particle. How many atoms have combined, and how many kinds of atoms have combined?

When two or more atoms of the same kind combine, it is an element. Any substance made of only one kind of atom is called an element.

O

O

O

This is a particle of the substance called ozone. Is ozone an element?

This is a representation of a water particle.

It is a combination of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. Any particle made of two or more different kinds of atoms is called a compound.

Compound:

Type here...

O

H

H

BOND

BOND

H₂O

How many substances on this periodic table are compounds? How do you know?

​

Type here…

​

How many of the white substances we previously studied are compounds?

​

Type here…

​

​

​

​

How do you know?

​

Type here…

How do the subscripts work?

When a subscript is used, it only applies to the symbol that immediately precedes it (right before it).

The ₂ in H₂O refers to the number of hydrogen atoms.

Two hydrogen atoms bond with one oxygen atom to form one particle of water.

​

But when two or more atoms are enclosed in parentheses, followed by a subscript number, the subscript applies to everything in the parentheses.

​

The chemical formula for calcium bicarbonate is:

​

Ca(HCO₃)₂

​

The subscript 3 only refers to the number of oxygen atoms.

The subscript 2 applies to ALL the atoms inside the parentheses.

​

How many of each type of atom are there in one particle of calcium bicarbonate?

​

​

​

Representing Substances

Paste a copy of your worksheet here or attach it to this assignment!

Try it another way: Analyzing Substances

All matter is made of atoms, the basic particles of elements. There are 90 different types of atoms on the Earth, from which all substances in the world are made.

​

Atoms combine to make new substances. If the particles of a new substance are made of two or more atoms of one kind, the substance is still an element. If the particles of a new substance are made of two or more different kinds of atoms, the substance is a compound.

​

If the atoms in a particle are connected to each other with strong bonds, the particle is a molecule.

​

If atoms in a particle of a compound are connected to each other with a weak network of bonds, the particle is part of an ionic compound.

Molecule:

Type here...

Ionic Compound:

Type here...

​

Check What You Know!

​

What are the basic particles from which all matter is made?

Type here...

What is a compound?

Type here...

What kinds of particles are made of two or more kinds of atoms?

Type here...

What kind of particles are made of just one kind of atom?

Type here...

How are molecules and ionic compounds the same?

Type here...

How are they different?

Type here…

How do atoms combine to make new substances?

Type here...

Representing Substances

H

C

O

Cl

Na

H

H

H

H

C

C

C

O

O

O

Cl

Cl

Cl

Na

Na

Na

O

O

O

O

O

Na

Na

Na

Na

USE THESE ONLY IF YOU ARE ABSENT

(delete this box)

Representing Substances

H

C

O

Cl

Na

H

H

H

H

C

C

C

O

O

O

Cl

Cl

Cl

Na

Na

Na

O

O

O

O

O

Na

Na

Na

Na

USE THESE ONLY IF YOU ARE ABSENT

(delete this box)

Representing Substances

This is the printed worksheet for students in the classroom. Students will need colored pencils.

(delete this box)