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Lesson: The Building Blocks of Matter

Quick Look
Grade Level: 6 (5-7)
Time Required: 15 minutes
Lesson Dependency: None
Subject Areas:Chemistry, Physical Science

Summary
Students use the associated activity to learn about atoms
and their structure (protons, electrons, neutrons) — the
building blocks of matter. They see how scientific
discoveries about atoms and molecules influence new
technologies developed by engineers.
This engineering curriculum aligns to Next Generation
Science Standards (NGSS).

Engineering Connection
Some students may have heard of anti-matter, "phasers"
(Star Trek™ laser-like weapons that emit high-energy light The building blocks of matter

bursts to stun or fatally wound an enemy) and "Beam me

up, Scotty!" (the Star Trek ™ signal to the transporter room). Imagination is great, and as technology
advances and engineers learn more about the building blocks of matter, these types of technologies move
from imagination to reality.

Learning Objectives
After this lesson, students should be able to:

• Define a molecule.
• List the basic components and structure of the atom.
• Understand how engineers use their knowledge of atomic structure to design new technologies.
Educational Standards
 NGSS: Next Generation Science Standards - Science
 Common Core State Standards - Math
 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association - Technology
 State Standards

Introduction/Motivation
Look around the classroom. What do you think makes up all the items in the classroom? (Possible
answers: atoms, matter, solid stuff, etc. Some students may answer more concrete things, such as: desks,
walls, air, humans, etc.). All living and non-living things around us are made up of stuff called matter. In
fact, any item that has mass and takes up space can be considered matter.

Do you know what the basic building blocks of matter are called? Well, the basic building blocks that make
up matter are called atoms. Sometimes two or more atoms bond, or stick together, and form a molecule.
A molecule is the smallest part of a substance that still has all the properties of that substance. For
example, a water molecule is made up of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. Sometimes, a
molecule is made up of two or more of the same atoms, such as a helium gas molecule. The matter and
molecules that make up the world around us are formed mostly by many different atoms bonding
together — each having their own properties or attributes.

Atoms are little, but they pack a wallop when their energy is released. Let's start with the basic particles
that make up the atom and their associated charges and structure. Atoms consist of three particles:
negatively charged electrons, positively charged protons and neutrons, which have a neutral charge. It is
easy to remember the types of charges on each of these particles when you use a simple association. For
example, protons are positive, and both of those words start with p. Also, neutrons are neutral, which
start with n. Then we only have to remember one particle: electrons, and they have a negative charge.
Where are all these particles located in an atom? The electrons exist in orbits or shells that spin around
the nucleus of the atom, which contains the protons and neutrons. In reality, these shells looks like fuzzy
clouds that the electrons move about in.

Engineers use their knowledge of the structure of atoms to do everything from developing new materials
(non-stick coatings for frying pans, safer football helmets, carbon fiber for faster cars and lighter
prosthetics and bicycles, etc.) to harnessing the energy of nuclear reactions for electricity. They also create
machines, such as lasers, to artificially create elements. Lasers are used in the medical and dental fields,
as well as in various types of industry. Many of the technologies from the old series Star Trek™ are real
possibilities for the future, as scientists and engineers learn more about the makeup of matter. During
this lesson, we are going to learn more about matter, and the basic building block of matter — the atom.
Let's also think about how we can use our knowledge about matter to understand new engineering
technologies.

Lesson Background and Concepts for Teachers

History
The ancient Greeks started the atomic ball rolling. Democritus was the first to theorize that matter was
made of small pieces. Leucippus was the first to use the term atom (atomon), which meant "indivisible" in
Greek. We now know that the atom is divisible and is made of even smaller pieces — the puzzling
subatomic particles. Because the Greeks had no way to test and verify their theories, we had to wait
almost 2000 years to confirm that atoms do exist, though not quite the way the Greeks imagined.

In the 16th century, Robert Boyle came up with the notion that there were elements that could not be
broken down any further, but it was not until the 18th century that John Dalton reasoned that elements
might be made of atoms.

The Atom and Atomic Structure

The basic facts to know about the atom are that it is made up of three basic subatomic particles: 1)
electrons (negative charge) that spin in shells around a nucleus that consists of 2) protons (positive
charge) and 3) neutrons (neutral charge). Generally, the number of protons and electrons balance out to
make the atom have an electrically neutral charge. Electrons that are farthest away from the nucleus of an
atom (valence electrons) are the ones that are most easily shared with or transferred to other atoms. The
atoms that are missing an electron or share an additional electron are called ions and combine easily with
other ions to make molecules.

The number of protons in an atom is called the atomic number. This number determines the element of
the atom. Within an element, the number of neutrons may vary, creating the different isotopes or
nuclides. For the most part, this does not affect the electrical and chemical behavior of the atom. (There is
some exception with the mass of the isotope, as heavier isotopes tend to react more slowly than lighter
ones.) There are some things that affect the number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus of an atom,
including nuclear fission, nuclear fusion and radioactive decay. Normally, though, the number of electrons
is the particle that is most easily changed, because of its lower bonding energy.

Traditionally, the atom was represented as a kind of miniature solar system. Now, scientists understand
that if we could see an atom, it would look more like a fuzzy little cloud. In fact, scientists can only predict
where an electron might be in its shell using the probability theory: the exact position and momentum of
an electron cannot be determined simultaneously.

Protons and neutrons are about the same mass; however, electrons
are over 1000 times lighter. How small are we talking? Well, as shown
in Figure 1, we're talking very, very tiny.

• atom = 1 x 10-10 meters

• nucleus = 1 x 10-15 to 1 x 10-14meters
• neutron or proton = 1 x 10-15 meters
• electron - not known exactly, but thought to be on the order of 1
x 10-18 meters

The atom can be broken down into several, smaller subatomic

particles. The three main ones are protons and neutrons, which are
found in the nucleus or core of the atom, and electrons, which exist
outside of the nucleus. Refer to the Gumdrop Atoms activity to
illustrate the anatomy of an atom to give students a better
understanding of how these subatomoic particles interact. Physicists Figure 1. Atomic scale.
have recently divided atoms into even smaller subatomic particles
such as fermions (quarks, leptons, neutrinos, electrons) and bosons (gluons, photons, gravitrons). It is
difficult (if not impossible) to determine the physical properties of something based on the number or
quarks and leptons it contains. The things we see in our world (water, wood, metal, skin, teeth) are better
understood and organized by using the number of protons, neutrons and electrons their atoms (and
molecules) contain. Similar to how we look at the shapes of different LEGO™ pieces, rather than the
plastic that makes them, with this lesson we are just going to look at protons, neutrons and electrons as
the as the "LEGOs™" of matter.

Fun Fact: If we drew the atom to scale and made protons and neutrons a centimeter in diameter, then
the electrons would be less than the diameter of a hair and the entire atom's diameter would be greater
than the length of thirty football fields! In fact, 99.9% of an atom's volume is just empty space! (Source:
http://particle.adventure.org/particleadventure/)

Associated Activities
• Gumdrop Atoms - Using gumdrops and toothpicks to make atom models, students learn the basic
components of the atom, their charges and basic configuration. They also learn that the atom is
made up mostly of space and that electrons move about the nucleus in an electron cloud.

Lesson Closure
So, what is the stuff that is all around us? (Answer: Matter) Matter is anything that has mass and takes up
space. The basic building blocks that make up matter are called atoms. What are the different particles
found in atoms? (Answer: electrons, protons and neutrons) Where are they found? (Answer: Protons and
neutrons are found in the nucleus, and electrons are found in shells around the outside of the nucleus.)
Who remembers what a molecule is? (Answer: A molecule is the smallest part of a substance that still has
all the properties of that substance; when two or more atoms bond, or stick together, they form a
molecule.)

The atom still has many mysteries to discover. In the last 100 years, we have learned new things about
how an atom behaves, but there is still so much more to learn. When your parents were growing up, they
did not have some of the technology we have today. Advancements made in particle technologies, such as
the use of lasers, have occurred because engineers have used the atomic discoveries of scientists to
create devices that make our lives better and advance human society. Lasers are used in industry,
medicine, military and even many consumer products, such as computers and DVD players.

Vocabulary/Definitions
atom: The basic unit of matter; the smallest unit of an element, having all the characteristics of that
element; consists of negatively-charged electrons and a positively-charged center called a nucleus.
atomic theory: The theory that all matter is made up of fundamental particles called atoms; the concept
of an atom as being composed of subatomic particles.
electron: Particle orbiting the nucleus of an atom with a negative charge.
molecule: The smallest unit of a substance that retains the chemical and physical properties of the
substance; two or more atoms held together by chemical bonds.
neutron: Particle in the nucleus of an atom with no charge.
nucleus: Dense, central core of an atom (made of protons and neutrons).
proton: Particle in the nucleus of an atom with a positive charge.
Assessment
Pre-Lesson Assessment

Discussion Question: Solicit, integrate and summarize student responses.

• Ask students to look around at the items in the classroom, and then ask them what they think the
"stuff" is that makes up the items in the classroom. Include technology items, such as computers,
telephones and intercoms. (Possible answers: Atoms, matter, solid stuff, etc.)

Post-Introduction Assessment

Voting: Ask a true/false question and have students vote by holding thumbs up for true and thumbs
down for false. Count the votes and write the totals on the board. Give the right answer.

• True or False: An atom is the smallest building block of matter (Answer: True)
• True or False: Molecules are made up of two or more atoms. (Answer: True; a molecule is also the
smallest part of a substance that still has all the properties of that substance.)
• True or False: Electrons are found in the nucleus of an atom. (Answer: False; electrons are found in
shells around the outside of the nucleus.)
• True or False: Engineers use their knowledge of atoms and molecules to develop new technologies.
(Answer: True)
• True or False: Lasers are only used in science laboratories. (Answer: False; lasers are used in many
things, including industry, dental and medicine, military and consumer products, such as
computers and DVD players.)

Lesson Summary Assessment

Flashcards: Each student on a team creates a flashcard with a question on one side and the answer on
the other. If the team cannot agree on the answers, they should consult the teacher. Pass the flashcards
to the next team. Each member of the team reads a flashcard, and everyone attempts to answer it. If they
are right, they can pass on the card to the next team. If they feel they have another correct answer, they
should write their answer on the back of the flashcard as an alternative. Once all teams have done all the
flashcards, clarify any questions. Sample questions follow:

• Is the charge of a proton positive, negative or neutral? (Answer: Positive)

• What atomic particles exist in the nucleus? (Answer: Protons and neutrons)

Lesson Extension Activities

Be a SME!

People who develop curriculum and training programs frequently rely on a subject matter expert or SME
(pronounced "smee") — frequently engineers or other professionals — to give them the latest scoop on
the material. For this activity, each student could become a SME on a subject area and give a poster
presentation at a "Puzzling Particles" class science fair. Students could individually pick a subatomic
particle and become a specialist on that subject. Or, several students could work together to explain
atomic structure, for example, demonstrating how electrons move in shells. Students should be
encouraged to act out the properties of the particles.

Individually, have students may investigate atoms (via the Internet or other sources).
Students may take the FunBrain Periodic Table interactive quiz at:
https://www.funbrain.com/games/periodic-table-game investigate each of the elements via the Internet
or other sources.

References
• Andrew Rader Studios, Rader's Chem4Kids.com, Atom Basics: Overview, "Atoms Around Us,"
http://www.chem4kids.com/ Accessed August 31, 2006.

• Batchelor, David Allen. NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, "The Science of Star Trek," 1993.

• Brown, Judy. Miami Museum of Science, Atom's Family, "The Phantom's Portrait Parlor,"
http://miamisci.org/af/sIn/phantom/index.html.

• Particle Data Group of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, "The Particle Adventure: the
fundamentals of matter and force," 2002.

• Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility - Office of Science Education, Science Education, Games
& Puzzles, "It's Elemental: The Periodic Table of Elements,"
http://education.jlab.org/inexpages/elementgames.html, accessed August 31, 2006.

• MacIntyre, Stacy. U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Information Administration, Energy Kid's Page,
Energy Facts, "Sources of Energy," http://www.eia.doe.gov/kids/ Accessed August 31, 2006.

• University of Colorado at Boulder, Center for Integrated Plasma Studies, Physics 2000, December 2004,
http://www.colorado.edu/physics/ Accessed August 31, 2006.

Copyright
© 2006 by Regents of the University of Colorado.

Contributors
Brian Kay; Daria Kotys-Schwartz; Malinda Schaefer Zarske; Janet Yowell

Supporting Program
Integrated Teaching and Learning Program, College of Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder

Acknowledgements
The contents of this digital library curriculum were developed under a grant from the Fund for the
Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE), U.S. Department of Education and National Science
Foundation GK-12 grant no. 0338326. However, these contents do not necessarily represent the policies
of the Department of Education or National Science Foundation, and you should not assume
endorsement by the federal government.

Last modified: October 13, 2020

Free K-12 standards-aligned STEM curriculum for educators everywhere.
Find more at TeachEngineering.org