Atoms are tiny but very important building blocks of everything in our world. What are the parts of an atom? Learn the parts of an atom with an easy hands-on physics activity. All you need is some playdough or clay, and our printable parts of an atom worksheets to get started!
Get your FREE Parts of an Atom Worksheets!
Build An Atom Project
Learn the parts of an atom using play dough to make electrons, neutrons, and protons and put them in their proper place.
Supplies:
- Build an atom worksheet
- Playdough or modeling clay in 3 different colors
NOTE: Check out our super easy no-cook playdough recipe to make your own!
Instructions:
STEP 1. Print out the build-an-atom worksheets and choose the colors you will use to represent the protons, neutrons, and electrons.
We used blue – protons, pink – neutrons, orange – electrons.
STEP 2. Add 5 protons to the center to make a Boron atom.
STEP 3. Add 5 or 6 neutrons to the nucleus. The most common isotope of Boron has 6 neutrons.
STEP 4. Add 5 electrons to the electron cloud around the center.
TIP: Remember to space the electrons out evenly, and make them much smaller than the protons and neutrons.
What Is The Atomic Number Of…
Using the parts of atom worksheet as a guide, here are some more common atoms for you to build! You can also check the Periodic table for other examples.
- Hydrogen atom has 1 proton, 0 neutrons and 1 electron.
- Helium atoms has 2 protons, 2 neutrons and 2 electrons.
- Carbon atom has 6 protons, 6 neutrons and 6 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.
What Are The Parts Of An Atom?
Everything is made of matter, and all matter is made of atoms. Atoms are the building blocks of everything! They are so small that you can’t see them with your eyes, but they make up everything around us.
💡An atom has three parts, which are even smaller particles called protons, neutrons, and electrons.
Protons
Protons are the same size as neutrons and are found in the center of the atom, called the nucleus.
As the atom is the smallest unit of matter with an element’s chemical properties, the number of protons determines what element it is. For example, all hydrogen atoms have one proton, while all helium atoms have two.
Neutrons
The neutrons are also found in the center of the atom, or the nucleus. Protons and neutrons are the same size.
The number of neutrons in an atom can be different to the number of protons. The number is calculated by finding the Atomic Mass minus the Atomic Number. (You can find the number of proton, neutrons and electrons for some common elements at the end!)
Sometimes, an element has isotopes. Isotopes are atoms of the same element with the same number of protons but different neutrons.
Electrons
Electrons are much smaller than protons and neutrons and orbit around the nucleus, like the planets orbit around the sun. Because electrons are in constant motion, the random orbits of electrons are sometimes referred to as an electron cloud, and the atom has no distinct outer edge.
The electrons in an atom are arranged in shells that surround the nucleus, with each shell being farther from the nucleus. The shell closest to the nucleus can hold two electrons, the next can hold eight, and the third can hold up to eighteen.
Protons have a positive charge, electrons have a negative charge, and neutrons have no charge. For the charge of an atom to be neutral, there must be the same number of protons as electrons.
Additionally, learn about the role of electrons in static electricity!
Using The Periodic Table
The periodic table is a chart that displays all of the known chemical elements. Each element is identified by its symbol, atomic number, and atomic mass. The periodic table allows scientists to predict the properties of elements and how they will react with other elements.
You can use the Periodic table to determine the atomic number of an element. The atomic number is the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom. Each element has a different number of protons, which gives it, its place in the periodic table.
The number of neutrons in an atom can be different to the number of protons. It is calculated by finding the Atomic Mass minus the Atomic Number.
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?
Helpful Science Resources To Get You Started
Here are a few resources that will help you introduce science more effectively to your kiddos or students and feel confident yourself when presenting materials. You’ll find helpful free printables throughout.
- Best Science Practices (as it relates to the scientific method)
- Science Vocabulary
- 8 Science Books for Kids
- All About Scientists
- Free Science Worksheets
- Science Supplies List
- Science Tools for Kids
- Scientific Method for Kids
- Easy Science Fair Projects
- Citizen Science Guide
- Join us in the Club
Printable Science Projects For Kids
If you’re looking to grab all of our printable science projects in one convenient place plus exclusive worksheets and bonuses like a STEAM Project pack, our Science Project Pack is what you need! Over 300+ Pages!
- 90+ classic science activities with journal pages, supply lists, set up and process, and science information. NEW! Activity-specific observation pages!
- Best science practices posters and our original science method process folders for extra alternatives!
- Be a Collector activities pack introduces kids to the world of making collections through the eyes of a scientist. What will they collect first?
- Know the Words Science vocabulary pack includes flashcards, crosswords, and word searches that illuminate keywords in the experiments!
- My science journal writing prompts explore what it means to be a scientist!!
- Bonus STEAM Project Pack: Art meets science with doable projects!
- Bonus Quick Grab Packs for Biology, Earth Science, Chemistry, and Physics
