LESSON PLAN
Atomic Theory Jeopardy
Page 1 of 4
What do you know about atomic theory?
OVERVIEW
Subject Focus: Science, Chemistry,
Environmental Science
Suggested Timing: 60 minutes plus time outside of class
21st Century Skills Focus:
Collaboration, Communication
Learning Goals
 Demonstrate an understanding of atomic theory, including: atoms, elements,
the periodic table, ions and common compounds
Lesson Context
A basic understanding of atoms,
elements, ions and compounds is critical
for understanding many concepts in
chemistry, physics and environmental
science.
 Applies knowledge of atomic theory by creating a Jeopardy-type trivia game
 Work cooperatively with other students
Learning Activities
In this lesson, students will participate in a class trivia game based on the television show Jeopardy! and make up a Jeopardytype trivia game of their own.
Big Idea
Atomic theory involves knowledge about: the atom, including its structure; elements, including how they arranged in the periodic
table and their symbols.
ASSESSMENT & EVALUATION
Prior Knowledge and Skills
Success Criteria
Assessment Strategies
 Familiarity with basic atomic theory
 Students are able to identify
 Observation of group work
 Experience with “Jeopardy” game format
 Experience locating information using internet
sources
 Experience working in cooperative small groups
significant information from a body of
text
 Assessment of games using rubric
 Students can gather and express
relevant information using a
“Jeopardy” game format
RESOURCES & MATERIALS
 Atomic Theory Jeopardy PowerPoint [.ppt]
 BLM – Atomic Theory Jeopardy Game Rubric [.doc]
[.pdf] – 1/student
 Curriculum alignment [.html]
 LCD projector or interactive white board
 Paper – 2 pieces/team
 Pencil (or pen) – 1/team
©2014 Canadian Nuclear Association/Let’s Talk Science
http://teachnuclear.ca/
 Buzzers or noisemakers (should all make different sounds)
– 1/small group
 Electronic device with internet access
Atomic Theory Jeopardy
LESSON PLAN
Page 2 of 4
MINDS-ON
Suggested Timing: 30 minutes
 To begin the lesson, have the students become familiar with the Atomic Theory web pages on the TeachNuclear web site. In
this section of the web site, students will read about the structure of the atom (nucleus, protons, neutrons and electrons), the
periodic table and Standard Atomic Notation (SAN), as well as ions and isotopes. Encourage the students to take notes.
 Students should be divided into teams of small groups (4-5) prior to the Action part of the lesson.
Implementation Option
 If students cannot read the text online, print enough copies of the web pages for teams to read.
ACTION
Suggesting Timing: 30 minutes
 Set up necessary equipment to show a PowerPoint presentation.
 Familiarize yourself with the format of the PowerPoint slide show (see notes below).
PowerPoint Notes
○ Show the PowerPoint as you would a regular slide show.
○ Each of the point values on the categories slide is hyperlinked to a new slide with a statement. The statement appears
automatically (does not require a mouse click).
○ To see the question that corresponds with the statement, click anywhere the slide.
○ To return to the categories, click the BACK TO QUESTION BOARD link in the bottom left corner.
○ Two questions are hyperlinked to “Daily Double” slides. The team in command of the board decides what to wager before
you go on to the next slide. Click on the arrow at the bottom right to go to the question (if you just mouse click, you will
return to the categories slide).
○ Once all of the categories are complete, go to the Final Jeopardy question. This can be accessed by clicking on the
FINAL JEOPARDY box at the bottom of the question board slide (slide 2). The teams wager their amounts and report
these amounts to you on the first slide (e.g., The Category is: Atomic Symbols) and then you mouse click to the next
slide, which shows the clue. The students have until the end of the music to write down their answer on a piece of paper,
then mouse click to reveal the question on the following slide.
○ Have the teams calculate their points and then show the last slide.
 Arrange 5 desks (or one desk for each team) side by side at the front of the room facing the screen where the PowerPoint will
be shown. This will be where the team representatives will sit when they compete to respond. Each team will need two
pieces of paper and a pencil. They may also bring any notes they made. Use a random method to determine which team will
go first.
 Explain the logistics of the game.
○ Each team will send up one member at a time to answer a question.
○ Team members must take turns competing to respond.
○ The representatives from the teams will sit in the desks at the front of the room.
○ Each team will have a distinct sound for “ringing in” (e.g., clapping, whistling, etc.).
○ Each team is responsible for keeping track of its own score.
○ The ruling of the teacher is final (for any disputed responses).
 Begin the PowerPoint and go to slide two (the question board), then explain the rules of the game (see next page).
Cont...
©2014 Canadian Nuclear Association/Let’s Talk Science
http://teachnuclear.ca/
Atomic Theory Jeopardy
LESSON PLAN
Page 3 of 4
Rules of the Game
 The team that is to go first chooses a category and number of points. Note: the team may choose any category and any
number of points.
 Once a category and number of points has been chosen, the statement on the slide is shown (e.g., “Matter consists of this.”).
 The first student to “ring in” will have the chance to give his/her answer to the statement in the form of a question.
 In order for the team to receive the points assigned to that statement, the student must give the correct answer in the form of a
question (e.g., “What are atoms?”). If the student does not answer in the form of a question, or gives an incorrect answer, the
answering team will lose the points assigned to that statement. One of the other teams may then “ring in” and answer.
 If no team answers or no team gets the correct answer, show the answer and do not award any points.
 Each team will rotate through team members and continue until all of the statements have been revealed.
Daily Double
 There are two “Daily Double” statements hidden on the board. A team that finds one of these may wager any part, or all, of its
current score, with a minimum wager of 5 points. If the team has a negative score, it may wager up to 1000 points. These
points are added to its score if correct and subtracted if incorrect.
 The team must wager before seeing the statement.
Final Jeopardy
 Once all of the categories are complete, it is the Final Jeopardy round.
 All teams can participate in the Final Jeopardy round.
 Before the Final Jeopardy statement is shown, each team will add up its points and determine how much it would like to wager.
Each team will write this amount onto a piece of paper (with the team name or number) and hand it to the teacher.
 The Final Jeopardy statement is then shown and each team will be able to read it, confer as a team and then write its answer
(in the form of a question, with the team name or number) on a piece of paper. The teams will have until the end of the music
(30 seconds) to finish writing their answer.
 The teacher will click to show the answer then check the teams’ answers and let each team know how much to add to, or
subtract from their scores
 The teams then calculate their scores, which are then posted.
Implementation Options
 Each team could come up with a team name and a team banner for their desk.
 The teams could each brainstorm and bring or create a team noise-maker (instrument, buzzer, whistle, etc.).
 If you have an uneven number of students, some students may choose to run the PowerPoint presentation or keep score for
the teams.
 If you wish, you could provide small prizes for the team with the most points.
©2014 Canadian Nuclear Association/Let’s Talk Science
http://teachnuclear.ca/
Atomic Theory Jeopardy
LESSON PLAN
Page 4 of 4
CONSOLIDATION
Suggested Timing: outside of class time
 Students will demonstrate their understanding of concepts about atomic theory by creating their own Atomic Theory Jeopardy
games.
 Provide the students with a digital copy of the Atomic Theory Jeopardy PowerPoint (could be posted on a class portal, etc.)
and the Atomic Theory Jeopardy Game Rubric BLM or develop a Jeopardy game rubric with the students.
 Students will work in their Jeopardy teams.
 As time permits, play the completed student Jeopardy games.
Implementation Option
 The teams are free to modify the look and feel of the PowerPoint (e.g., background, fonts, sound effects, etc.).
 Host a class Jeopardy tournament using the student PowerPoint presentations (the group that writes a given PowerPoint is
ineligible to play their own).
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES — Canadian Nuclear Association
TeachNuclear Web pages
Related TeachNuclear Lesson Plans
 Atomic Theory: Introduction
 Understanding Isotopes
 Ions
 Fission vs. Fusion
 Understanding the Periodic Table
 Periodic Table of Elements
 Famous contributors
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES — CurioCity by Let’s Talk Science
Articles
Videos
 Useful and beautiful calcium compounds
 Introduction to the Atom - Khan Academy
 Hydrogen: The element that destroyed the Hindenburg
could power your car
 Up, Up, and Away! Helium's Story
 The NEW periodic table song
 Rutherford and the discovery of the atomic nucleus
 The strength of sterling silver
 Rare earth minerals: Rising demand and environmental
risk
©2014 Canadian Nuclear Association/Let’s Talk Science
http://teachnuclear.ca/
Educator Resources:
 Battery Power! (With Starting Points)