In this lesson, students will be able to explain that the parts of an object can be rearranged to create a new object. Students will also get a sense of the number of different objects that can be created from a small number of parts and will apply this to modeling atoms and molecules.
Student groups are given four snap cubes and guided to use the four cubes to make eight different objects. Each student is given a picture of one of the possible 29 different objects that can be built from five snap cubes and students build their object. After students build their objects, all 29 are displayed for the class to see. Students do an anagram activity to see that letters can be rearranged to make different words, just like atoms can be rearranged to make different molecules.
In this lesson, students will be able to explain that snap cubes or other objects can be used as models of atoms. Students will also be able to explain that atoms can be rearranged to make different molecules.
Students see an animation showing that the things around them are made of atoms and molecules. Students are given white, red, blue, and black cubes that represent hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon atoms. Students are guided to take atoms apart, rearrange them, and put them together again in different ways to make six different molecules. Students also see a fun molecule-making game that they can try.
In this activity, students will discover ways that scientists and engineers can use rovers to explore places where humans cannot go. Students will construct a science rover using the LEGO WeDo 2.0 kit and program the rover using WeDo 2.0 Software or a compatible programming app. Students will also document completion of the programming task and evidence of learning how the rover can help scientists make discoveries.
This activity was demonstrated during the Exploring Today's Classroom (ETC) Summit.
