Atomic Theory Timeline
To help you piece together the story of what we know about the atom, you will be
creating a timeline depicting the development of the scientific model of the atom. It has
been through debates by ancient philosophers and new discoveries by physicists and
chemists over the past 2500 years that our understanding of the atom has developed.
Your assignment is to research the major contributors and significant discoveries that
have impacted the atomic model and develop a timeline.
Your timeline must:
1. Include at least 3 scientists from each of the following time periods. (There are
more scientists than 3 in each time period!!) For each scientist included, provide
the name, birth and death, country they were born in, year of discovery and
contribution.
2. Include the following pictorial models of the atom along with an explanation of
each model, including the date developed.
3. Contain at least 3 major world events in each time period.
4. Be chronological in its sequence, with dates clearly shown although it does not
have to be to scale. Place the scientists/models at the top of the timeline and the
world events on the bottom. Make sure to select data that is appropriate and
significant for each time period. The models are not a separate timeline. You
should have one chronological timeline.
5. Include pictures and illustrations for each part of the timeline.
6. Be neat and legible.
7. Be larger than 8.5 x 11” in size.
Your research must be done using the Atomic Theory Timeline Research Template. You
can find this online at the website or you may use your own paper. Each source used
must be correctly cited in the “source” column.
Timeline is due on ____________________________________.
Time Period:
Ancient– 1700 AD
1700 – 1800
1801 – 1875
1876 – 1900
1901 – 1915
1916 – 1950
1951 – current
Scientists that are
required:
Neils Bohr
James Chadwick
Marie Curie
Democritus
Werner Heisenburg
Wilhelm C. Roentgen
Isaac Newton
Robert Millikan
Henri Becquerel
Ernest Rutherford
Erwin Schrodinger
J.J. Thomson
John Dalton
Albert Einstein
Models:
Democritus’s Model
Plum Pudding Model
Rutherford Model
(sometimes called
Rutherford-Bohr)
Planetary Model
Electron Cloud Model
Rubric for Timeline Project
Category
4
3
2
1
0
Weight
Points
at least 2 scientists
for each time period
correctly represented
or a few (1-3) in the
wrong time period
one required piece of
info is missing or
required info on more
than 3 scientists is
missing
all 5 models correctly
represented, minor
errors in explanations
only 1 scientist
per time period
or many are in
the wrong place
n/a
No scientists
included
X2.5
10
Errors on more
than 10
scientists
Errors on more
than 15
scientists
too many
errors to
count
X2.5
10
not all (2-3)
models are
represented or
explanations are
not provided
2-3 models
correctly
represented,
minor errors in
explanations
models are
not
represented
or
explanations
are missing
X2
8
n/a
2 significant
events for each
time period
n/a
0 significant
events
X1.5
6
Did not use
the given
research
template
4
1/4 have
correct
citations
0 sources for
research
x2.5
10
2 school days late
3 school days
late
4 school days
late
more than
5 days late
-11
X1
4
chronological, dates
clearly shown,
scientific events on
top, world events on
bottom
mechanical
errors in
presentation,
spelling
mistakes,
cluttered
illegible or
messy,
cluttered or
unclear
Not
chronological
bonus
points for
work
above and
beyond
(teacher
discretion)
X4
16
All scientists and
models include pictures
in the correct location
Pictures/ illustration
missing on more than
3 scientists or models
Pictures/
illustration
missing on more
than 10
scientists or
models
Pictures/
illustration
missing on
more than 15
scientists or
models
Pictures/
illustration
missing on
all
X2
8
turned in on due date or
before
1 school day late
2 school days late
3 school days
late
4 school days
late
X1
4
^Documentation
of Events
at least 3 scientists for
each time period,
correctly represented
^Biography of
scientists
all information is
present and accurate
^Pictorial
models of the
atom
all five models are
correctly represented
and correct explanation
is provided
^World Events
at least 3 significant
world events for each
time period
^research
template
Used correct research
template
^Citations
all
scientists/models/world
evelnts have
appropriate citations
3/4 have correct
citations
1/2 have correct
citations
^research turned
in on time
turned in on due date or
before
1 school day late
Timeline
construction
chronological, dates
clearly shown,
scientific events on
top, world events on
bottom, neat, legible,
correct spelling,
visually striking
Pictures and
illustrations
timeline turned in
on time
more than
5 days late
-11
Name ____________________________ Cubby ________
Atomic Theory Timeline Research Template
Time Period: Ancient - 1700
Scientist
date of
discovery
Discovery/contribution to atomic
theory
DOB and DOD, country of birth, and
other significant info
Source (properly cited)
Time Period: Ancient - 1700
World Event
date
Significance
Source (properly cited)
Time Period: 1701 - 1800
Scientist
date of
discovery
Discovery/contribution to atomic
theory
DOB and DOD, country of birth, and
other significant info
Source (properly cited)
Time Period: 1701 - 1800
World Event
date
Significance
Source (properly cited)
Time Period: 1801 - 1875
Scientist
date of
discovery
Discovery/contribution to atomic
theory
DOB and DOD, country of birth, and
other significant info
Source (properly cited)
Time Period: 1801 - 1875
World Event
date
Significance
Source (properly cited)
Time Period: 1876 - 1900
Scientist
date of
discovery
Discovery/contribution to atomic
theory
DOB and DOD, country of birth, and
other significant info
Source (properly cited)
Time Period: 1876 - 1900
World Event
date
Significance
Source (properly cited)
Time Period: 1901 - 1915
Scientist
date of
discovery
Discovery/contribution to atomic
theory
DOB and DOD, country of birth, and
other significant info
Source (properly cited)
Time Period: 1901 - 1915
World Event
date
Significance
Source (properly cited)
Time Period: 1916 - 1950
Scientist
date of
discovery
Discovery/contribution to atomic
theory
DOB and DOD, country of birth, and
other significant info
Source (properly cited)
Time Period: 1916 - 1950
World Event
date
Significance
Source (properly cited)
Time Period: 1951 - current
Scientist
date of
discovery
Discovery/contribution to atomic
theory
DOB and DOD, country of birth, and
other significant info
Source (properly cited)
Time Period: 1951 - current
World Event
date
Significance
Source (properly cited)
Models
Model
Date
published
Significant Facts (who
discovered it, why it’s
significant, etc.)
Draw or find a picture (you can’t use one
from my power point!)
Source (properly
cited)
Model
Date
published
Significant Facts (who
discovered it, why it’s
significant, etc.)
Draw or find a picture (you can’t use one
from my power point!)
Source (properly
cited)