The Structure of Materials

Overview:

High school students will view short clips on matter, atoms, and atomic bonding, and complete answer sheets on what they have learned. They will pair up to participate in an activity called "Building a Glass of Water" in which they will build water molecules with marshmallows and toothpicks. Then they will view more clips that introduce the relationship of matter to nanoscience. Extension activities include making table salt and discussing a newsreel about the Hindenburg disaster.

Content Objectives

1. Students will know the definition of matter, volume, and mass
2. Students will know that matter is composed of atoms
3. Students will know the parts of an atom
4. Students will know the basic properties of the subatomic particles which make up an atom
5. Students will know the basic bonding characteristics

Process Objectives

1. Students will be able to describe the structure of an atom
2. Students will be able to illustrate an atom and its various components
3. Students will be able to construct molecular models demonstrating basic atomic bonding
4. Students will be able to explain similarities and differences between different atoms

Assessment Strategies

1. Completion of the Matter Handout
2. Construction of models illustrating various compounds
3. Informal evaluation of participation in group discussion
4. Performance assessment of modeling molecule

Materials

• Video
What is Matter? (1 minute 16 seconds)
What is a Molecule? (28 seconds)
What Holds A Molecule Together? (57 seconds)
Using Nanoscience to Understand the Properties of Matter (48 seconds)
Taking Pictures of Things You Can't See (1 minute 17 seconds)
Hindenburg Disaster Newsreel (5 minutes 26 seconds)
• Structure of Materials Worksheet
• Periodic table pdf
• Marshmallows
• Gummy Bears
• Toothpicks
• Large transparent container (1000 mL beaker)

Procedures

Procedure
PART 1: Basics of Matter and Atoms

1. Students should view What is Matter? (1 minute 16 seconds) and What is a Molecule? (28 seconds) videos
2. Students should complete Part I of the Structure of Matter Worksheet. They will need a computer to view the periodic table electronically as a pdf. (5-10 minutes)

PART 2: Basics of Atomic Bonding

1. Students should view What Holds a Molecule Together? video (57 seconds)
2. Students should complete Part II of the Structure of Matter Worksheet. (10-15
minutes)

PART 3: Building a Glass of Water

1. Students should pair up. Pass 1 marshmallow, 2 gummy bears, and 2 toothpicks to each pair. Each pair of students should then construct a model of a water molecule. (2 minutes)
2. Teacher should then direct each pair of students to bond their water molecule to another group’s water molecule. Teacher should then direct that pair of molecules to bond with another pair of molecules. (2 minutes)
3. Teacher should then place all of the bonded water molecules into a large transparent container (large 10000 mL beaker will work). Teacher can then lead a discussion about this “glass of water”. (2-5 minutes)
4. Students should then complete Part III of the Structure of Matter worksheet (5-
10 minutes)

PART 4: Introduction to Matter and Nanoscience

1. Students should view Using Nanoscience to Understand Properties of Matter (48 seconds)
2. Students should view Taking Pictures of Things You Can't See video (1 minute 17 seconds)

Extension

Extension #1:
1. Some of the students can make table salt (NaCl) using the other food products as the sodium and chlorine atoms.

2. The students can then put the water molecules and the salt molecules into the beaker representing salt water.

3. Teacher can then lead a discussion: When salt and water are put together in a beaker, do the salt and water retain their properties? Is the salt bonded to the water? What is this called?

Extension #2:
1. Students can view the Hindenburg Disaster Newsreel (5 minutes 26 seconds) and discuss theories of what happened to cause the explosion.