Reflection- Year 10PDV (ATOMS)

                                                Year 10 PDV Reflection

This is my first topic for year 10. I was very excited to teach this topic. It was good to know, students know what an atom, Periodic table and Elements are. I started this topic with little discussion and Q A. So, That I can understand what's the student's previous knowledge. After that, I started this topic by showing them clip and Atoms, Neutrons, Protons and Electrons.

Challenge students to tear a piece of paper into the smallest size possible. Then pose the question, 'can this piece of paper be broken down further'? Explore ideas on the board and then introduce the concept of atoms, building on what students already know about particles. A fun thing to do is then 'build an atom together' using a range of artefacts to represent the different parts. Neutrons and protons should be represented by similar-sized objects, with the same mass. Electrons can be represented by something with a little weight – such as a hair plucked from your head!
Mass number and atomic number – what do they mean?

Students work in pairs to deduce as many things as they can about atomic structure from diagrams showing three different atoms and one ion. The activity should lead to an understanding of what the atomic number and mass number mean. (PDF)

The language of atomic structure Keywords used to describe atomic structure is written on the board. Students come up with a list of questions that their partner must answer by using the keywords written on the slide. This activity promotes good discussion between students and supports the meaning-making of critical terms. (PDF)  

Electronic configuration of atoms Whenever teaching atomic structure, it is vital students gain an understanding of scale and just how empty atoms are—worksheet on electronic configuration and the Periodic table. Students draw on the automatic setting for the first 20 elements. They see for themselves how group number equals valence electron number. (PDF) 

Thinking deeper

• If atoms are mostly empty space, why does it hurt when we bang into a wall?
• Why is it not possible to know precisely where an electron is?
• How is an atom similar and different from the solar system?