Teaching Materials
Instructor’s Guide
Activity Title
Brief Description
Objectives
Atomic Theory
Scientist
Research
“Speed Dating”

Students will conduct online research on a scientist who
contributed to the current model of the atom. They will then
present this research to their peers in a “speed dating” format.
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Conduct accurate research
Present research accurately and succinctly
Evaluate peer research
Build an Atom
Guided Inquiry
Lab

Students will use the “Build an Atom” PhET applet to develop an
understanding of subatomic particles and how the contribute to the
structure, mass, and volume of the atom.

Use guided inquiry to develop
understanding of content
Identify and describe the location and
mass of the subatomic particles
Describe the atom as mostly empty space
with dense nucleus surrounded by
electron cloud
Use evidence to develop conclusions
Use guided inquiry to develop
understanding of content
Identify and describe how the subatomic
particles determine the isotope and/ or ion
of an element
Use evidence to develop conclusions
Calculate the atomic mass when given
percent abundance of isotopes
Recognize that the atomic mass on the
periodic table is an average of isotopes.
Predict the isotope that contributes the
most to the average atomic mass
Connect prior knowledge to the periodic
table
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
The Nuclear
Atom POGIL

Finding the
Average
Atomic Mass
of the Element
Chocolatium

Periodic Table
Activity

Review over
electromagnetic
radiation and
the Bohr Model

Students will use “The Nuclear Atom” POGIL as a method to
guide their learning of the structure of the atom as well as isotopes
and ions.
Students will learn how to calculate the average atomic mass using
the “natural abundance” of different colored M&M’s (isotopes) in
a package.
Brief lecture over atomic mass.
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Students will participate in an inquiry activity where they match
cards with information on an atom to its element on the periodic
table. This activity will demonstrate to them how our previous
knowledge connects to the periodic table.
Brief lecture to solidify the connection of knowledge.
Lecture over electromagnetic radiation, subatomic particles
behaving similar to light, excitation of electrons, and the Bohn
model of the atom.

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Recall that electrons behave similar to
light
Electrons can be excited to higher energy
states. Relaxation releases photons which
Teaching/
Learning
Method (s)
Student driven
research and
presentation
Assessment


Students will
be assessed
on: research,
presentation,
and evaluation
of peers
Facilitation
Pre-lab, lab
document, and
post-lab.
Facilitation
Guided
inquiry

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Warm-up
POGIL
Post-Quiz
Facilitation
Lab and
Lecture

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Warm-up
Lab hand-out
Average
atomic mass
worksheets
Facilitation
Student
activity sheet.
Quiz
Facilitation
Guided
inquiry
Inquiry
activity and
Lecture
Lecture and
worksheets
over crucial
topics

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Bohr Model
and
electromagneti
c radiation
This Lab May
Go Down in
Colorful
Flames

Losing Your
Marbles for
Atomic
Structure

Quantum
Mechanical
Model of Atom
Review
Electron
Configuration
Flipped lecture
and classroom
lecture
Electron
Configuration
Applet
Electron
Configuration
BINGO

King of the
Classroom
Review Game
Unit Test

Students will participate in inquiry based lab to visualize how
elements produce specific spectrums of light when excited
electrons fall back to ground state.
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Students will participation in the marble drop demonstration/ lab to
show them that the location of the electron cannot be specifically
pinpointed at any time. This should help promote the idea that
electrons occupy a cloud rather than an orbit.
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Students (with instructor help) will review topics covered when
discussing the quantum mechanical model of the atom.
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Students struggle with the concept of electron configuration. In
order to give students as much exposure to these concepts, they
will first watch Khan Academy videos on this topic, and then will
be more prepared for classroom lecture.

Students will get the opportunity to play with an applet that shows
students how electron configuration is developed from each
element in the periodic table.

Students will play BINGO to match the electron configuration
provided by instructor to the elements they have chosen on their
BINGO board.

Students will play a review game where they ask each other
questions from their notes, homework, quizzes, labs, etc. to review
for the test.
Students understanding of the unit will be evaluated through a test.
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can be described using electromagnetic
spectrum
Conduct scientific investigations
Develop procedures and data table to
investigate scientific phenomenon
Develop conclusions using evidence
Explain how the flame lab ties into
atomic structure.
Conduct a scientific demonstration
Generate and graph data
Form conclusions from graphs
Describe the shape of s and p orbitals
Recognize the quantum mechanical
model of the atom (including energy
levels, shells, and subshells)
Review and help peers understand
concepts of quantum mechanical model
of the atom
Inquiry lab
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Demonstration
and
explanation
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Lecture and
review
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worksheets
Facilitation
Lab
documents
Facilitation
Warm-up
Demonstration
worksheet
Orbital
practice
worksheet
Facilitation
Quiz
Facilitation
Identify the electron configuration for the
elements of the first four rows
Identify the element that correlates with a
specific electron configuration
Video and
Lecture
Applet

Game
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Electron
configuration
worksheet
Facilitation
Participation
Facilitation


Identify the electron configuration for the
elements of the first four rows
Identify the element that correlates with a
specific electron configuration
Identify the electron configuration for the
elements of the first four rows
Identify the element that correlates with a
specific electron configuration
Review concepts from unit
Test their own knowledge of unit
Review Game
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Participation
Facilitation
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Demonstrate knowledge of unit
Test
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Test
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Class practice
of the first 20
elements
Facilitation
Assessment List (In order of Assignment Date)
Grading Category
Class Work (40% of grade)
Type of Assessment
Engagement Activity
(Research/ Presentation)
Class Work (40% of grade)
Simulation Lab
Class Work (40% of grade)
Content Assessment (50% of grade)
Participation (10% of grade)
POGIL
Quiz
Participation Activity
Class Work (40% of grade)
Homework
Participation (10% of grade)
Content Assessment (50% of grade)
Class Work (40% of grade)
Participation Activity
Quiz
Lab
Participation (10% of grade)
Class Work (40% of grade)
Class Work (40% of grade)
Class Work (40% of grade)
Worksheet
Homework
Homework
Demonstration/ lab
Assessment
Atomic Theory Scientist Research “Speed Dating”
 Points are distributed for: accuracy of research,
presentation, citation, and evaluation of peers
Build an Atom guided-inquiry lab.
 1 point pre-lab, 10 points lab, 4 points post-lab
The Nuclear Atom
Quiz #1
Finding the Average Atomic Mass of the Element Chocolatum
Homework
Quiz
Homework
Participation Activity
Participation Activity
Test
15
15
20
5
Calculating Average Atomic Mass Worksheet
Average Atomic Mass Worksheet
Periodic Table Activity
Quiz #2
This Lab May Go Down in Colorful Flames
 2 points for completing the pre-lab, 18 points for the
rest of the lab (2 per question)
5
8
5
21
20
Bohr Model Practice (as a class)
Bohr Models of Atoms
Electromagnetic Radiation
Losing Your Marbles for Atomic Structure
1 point for warm-up, 2 for table, and 5 for questions.
5
8
7
8

Class Work (40% of grade)
Content Assessment (50% of grade)
Class Work (40% of grade)
Participation (10% of grade)
Participation (10% of grade)
Content Assessment (50% of grade)
Points
15
Orbital Worksheet
Quiz #3
Electron Configuration Practice Worksheet
Electron Configuration BINGO
King of the Classroom Review Game
Unit Test
7.5
22
10
5
5
80
Total Points Given Per Category and Final Grade
Grading Category
Participation (10% of grade)
Class Work (40% of grade)
Content Assessment (50% of grade)
TOTAL
Points Adjusted by Percent Weight
25
2.5
118.5
143
47.5
71.5
121.5