Lesson 6.2 - Atoms can be Rearranged to Make Different Molecules

Lesson Overview for Teachers

View the video below to see what you and your students will do in this lesson. 

Objective  

Students will be able to explain that Snap Cubes or other objects can be used as models of atoms. Students will also be able to explain that atoms can be rearranged to make different molecules.  

Key Concepts 

• Matter is made up of very small parts called atoms.
• Atoms can combine in different numbers and in different ways to make different molecules.
• Atoms and molecules make up all of the different substances, including solids, liquids, and gases that are all around us.
• Models can be used to represent atoms and these models can be rearranged to represent different molecules.

Summary

• Students see an animation showing that the things around them are made of atoms and molecules.
• Students use Snap Cubes to make models of atoms and molecules. They are given white, red, blue, and black cubes that represent hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon atoms respectively.
• Students are guided to take atoms apart, rearrange them, and put them together again in different ways to make six different molecules.
• Students also see a fun molecule-making game that they can try.

Evaluation 

There is no student activity sheet for this lesson. After clicking on each molecule in the animation, you may want to circulate around the room to see how well students understand how to create models of the molecules using Snap Cubes.  

Safety 

This activity uses toys and is considered nonhazardous. 

Materials for each group 

10 snap cubes (4 white – hydrogen; 3 red – oxygen; 2 black – carbon; and 1 blue – nitrogen) 

Teacher preparation:  

You will need 2 sets of Snap Cubes 

Snap cubes can be purchased at:  

• hand2mind (ETA) http://www.hand2mind.com/item/snap-cubes-set-of-100/5486 
• Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Learning-Resources-Mathlink-Cubes-Set/dp/B000URL296
• Lakeshore Learning http://lakeshorelearning.info/seo/p%7CRA529~~.jsp 

They also go by the name Pop Cubes, Linking Cubes, and Mathlink Cubes.  

Print out and laminate (optional) the two sheets containing a total of six Molecule Cards (PDF). Cut the sheets in thirds so that each molecule is on a third-sheet of paper. You will display these cards for students to see at different points in the lesson. 

Give each student group a set of 10 snap cubes (4 white – hydrogen; 3 red – oxygen; 2 black – carbon; and 1 blue – nitrogen). If you don’t have enough of each color, each group can make its own color key for colors to represent hydrogen, oxygen, carbon, and nitrogen. You may want each group to create a color key they can refer to in order to remember the color that represents each atom.  If you cannot get Snap Cubes, you can use colored Styrofoam balls or gumdrops with toothpicks.  

ENGAGE

1. Remind students of the different substances they have worked with and explain that these substances are all made of atoms and molecules.

Remind students that the different materials they have looked at so far like wood, plastic, metal, and rubber are all made from tiny particles called atoms. Explain that different combinations of atoms make up different molecules. Atoms and molecules make up all the substances and objects in the world.

Tell students that the different colored Snap Cubes (or other items you are using) are models that stand for or represent different atoms. Let students know that each group should have 4 white, 3 red, 2 black, and 1 blue cube. The white ones stand for hydrogen, the red are oxygen, the black are carbon, and the blue is nitrogen.

Explain that scientists use models of atoms to see the different ways atoms can connect together to make molecules. Let students know that they will take atoms apart and put them together in new ways to make new molecules.

EXPLORE/EXPLAIN

2. Use an animation to show students a molecule and have them use their Snap Cubes to make a model of the molecule.

EXTEND

3. Show and play a molecule-making game.