Atoms are tiny but very important building blocks of everything in our world. Find out what are the three things that make up an atom, and how to make your own scientific model of an atom. We have a list of materials you need, it’s super simple, and tips and suggestions for easy atoms you can make.
How To Make An Atom Model
Find two easy atom model projects for you to choose from. All you need are a paper plate and pom poms, or pipe cleaners and beads.
We also include instructions for two atoms you can make with each project, a Helium atom and an Oxygen atom.
Want to experiment with more atom models? Here are a couple of things you need to know…
- Protons and neutrons are the same size, and form the nucleus of the atom.
- A neutral atom will have the same number of electrons as protons.
- Electrons are much smaller than protons and neutrons. Though this is hard to represent with the second pipe cleaner and beads model.
- The first electron shell will have two electrons, the subsequent shell will have up to 8 and the next one will have up to 18 and so on.
- You can find the Atomic Number of any element (the number of protons) by using a Periodic Table.
Easy Atom Information Printable (FREE)
💡Also, make sure to grab our free atom building printable pack [here].
Atom Model Project 1. – Paper Plate
💡 Make a helium atom. A helium atom has 2 protons, 2 neutrons, and 2 electrons.
The blue pom poms are the protons, and the orange pom poms are the neutrons. Protons and neutrons are the same size, which is why the 4 pom poms are the same size.
The 4 pom poms glued together in the middle of the plate form the nucleus of our Helium atom. The black circle drawn on the plate represents the orbit, or circular path, of the electrons around the nucleus.
The green pom poms are smaller than the orange and blue ones, because electrons are much smaller than protons and neutrons.
Additionally, the electrons are placed on opposite sides of the orbit because the negative charge of each electron repels them from one another.
Supplies:
- 2 large blue craft pom poms
- 2 large orange craft pom poms
- 2 small green craft pom poms
- 1 paper plate
- Glue
- Black Marker
NOTE: You can use any colors of pom pom you like!
Instructions:
STEP 1. Using the black marker, draw a large circle on the paper plate.
STEP 2. Glue the blue and orange pom poms to the center of the paper plate.
STEP 3. Glue one of the green pom poms onto the black circle drawn in step 1.
STEP 4. Glue the second green pom pom onto the black circle, but on the opposite side of the circle as the first green pom pom was glued.
Atom Model Project 2. – Pipe Cleaner
💡 Make an oxygen atom. An oxygen atom has 8 protons, 8 neutrons, and 8 electrons.
The purple beads and the green beads can either be protons or neutrons as they are the same number. The 16 beads scrunched together in the middle of the pipe cleaner form the nucleus of our oxygen atom.
The white and blue pipe cleaner circles represent the orbit, or electron shells, of the electrons around the nucleus. The inner shell or blue pipe cleaner has two gold beads. The outer shell or white pipe cleaner has six gold beads.
Additionally, the electrons are placed on opposite sides of the orbit because the negative charge of each electron repels them from one another.
Supplies:
- Pipe cleaners
- Beads
Instructions:
STEP 1: Connect two pipe cleaners together on one end. Just twist them together.
STEP 2: Thread 6 beads of the same color onto this pipe cleaner and space them out evenly.
STEP 3: Connect the other ends of the pipe cleaner to make a circle.
STEP 4: Thread the remaining two beads of the first color onto a different pipe cleaner. Connect the ends to make a second smaller circle.
STEP 5: Place the remaining beads (16) onto one pipe cleaner and twist to make a center ‘nucleus’.
STEP 6. Attach the renaming portion of the pipe cleaner to the top of the circle.
What Is An Atom?
Everything is made of tiny particles called atoms, which are the basic building blocks of all matter. Atoms are extremely small and cannot be seen with the naked eye.
💡Atoms have three parts: protons and neutrons, which are found in the nucleus at the center of the atom, and electrons, which orbit around the nucleus, similar to planets orbiting the sun.
The arrangement of electrons around the nucleus forms shells, with each shell able to hold a specific number of electrons. Protons have a positive charge, electrons have a negative charge, and neutrons have no charge.
For an atom to have a neutral charge, the number of protons must equal the number of electrons. The number of protons in an atom’s nucleus determines its element. Understanding atoms and how they behave is essential in various scientific fields, such as chemistry, physics, and biology.
What Is The Atomic Number Of…
Make another atom model with one of these common atoms below. You can also check the Periodic table for more examples.
- Hydrogen atom has 1 proton, 0 neutrons and 1 electron.
- Carbon atom has 6 protons, 6 neutrons and 6 electrons.
- Boron atom has 5 protons, 6 neutrons and 5 electrons.
- Nitrogen atom has 7 protons, 7 neutrons and 7 electrons.
- Sodium atom has 11 protons, 12 neutrons and 11 electrons.
- Magnesium atom has 12 protons, 24 neutrons and 12 electrons.
Additional Physics Experiments For Kids
Explore physics, including light, forces, sound and more with one of these hands-on physics experiments below.
Learn about atmospheric pressure with this incredible can crusher experiment.
Explore forces with an easy to set up balloon rocket project.
Pennies and foil are all you need to learn about buoyancy. Oh. and a bowl of water too!
Check out these fun ways to demonstrate capillary action.
Make a pencil float with this easy friction experiment.
Explore sound and vibrations when you try this fun dancing sprinkles experiment.
Make a color wheel spinner to explore light.
Can you light a light bulb with a lemon battery?
