Unlocking the Building Blocks of Life: Elements, Atoms, and Their Properties

Biology Grades High School 13:09 Video
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Lesson Description

This lesson explores the fundamental concepts of elements and atoms, focusing on their structure, properties, and relevance to living organisms. Students will learn about protons, neutrons, and electrons and their roles in defining elements.

Video Resource

Elements and atoms | Atoms, compounds, and ions | Chemistry | Khan Academy

Khan Academy

Duration: 13:09
Watch on YouTube

Key Concepts

  • Elements are pure substances with specific properties.
  • Atoms are the basic units of elements.
  • Atoms are composed of protons, neutrons, and electrons.
  • The number of protons defines the element (atomic number).
  • Electrons determine how atoms interact with each other (chemical properties).

Learning Objectives

  • Define element and atom, and differentiate between them.
  • Describe the structure of an atom, including the roles of protons, neutrons, and electrons.
  • Explain how the number of protons determines the identity of an element.
  • Relate the properties of elements to their atomic structure.

Educator Instructions

  • Introduction (5 mins)
    Begin by asking students what they think everything around them is made of. Show images of different substances (e.g., graphite, lead, gold) as shown in the video. Briefly discuss how these substances have different properties. Introduce the concept of elements as the fundamental building blocks.
  • Video Viewing (15 mins)
    Play the Khan Academy video "Elements and atoms | Atoms, compounds, and ions | Chemistry | Khan Academy". Instruct students to take notes on the key concepts presented in the video.
  • Guided Discussion (15 mins)
    Facilitate a discussion based on the video. Clarify any misconceptions and reinforce the key concepts. Use the discussion questions provided.
  • Interactive Exercise: Building Atoms (10 mins)
    Have students complete the interactive exercise where they build atoms using protons, neutrons, and electrons. This could be a physical activity using colored balls or a virtual simulation.
  • Wrap-up and Assessment (5 mins)
    Summarize the key concepts learned. Administer the multiple-choice or fill-in-the-blank quiz to assess understanding.

Interactive Exercises

  • Build an Atom Activity
    Students use physical models (e.g., colored beads, marshmallows, or online simulation) to construct atoms of different elements (e.g., hydrogen, carbon, oxygen). They must correctly place the protons, neutrons, and electrons to create a stable, neutral atom or an ion.

Discussion Questions

  • What is the difference between an element and an atom?
  • What are the three subatomic particles that make up an atom, and what are their charges?
  • How does the number of protons in an atom define what element it is?
  • Why are electrons important in determining how elements interact with each other?
  • Why is carbon so important to life?

Skills Developed

  • Critical thinking
  • Note-taking
  • Conceptual understanding
  • Scientific literacy

Multiple Choice Questions

Question 1:

What is the smallest unit of an element that still retains the properties of that element?

Correct Answer: Atom

Question 2:

Which subatomic particle defines what element an atom is?

Correct Answer: Proton

Question 3:

What is the charge of a proton?

Correct Answer: Positive

Question 4:

What is the charge of an electron?

Correct Answer: Negative

Question 5:

Where are protons and neutrons located in an atom?

Correct Answer: Nucleus

Question 6:

If an atom has 6 protons, what element is it?

Correct Answer: Carbon

Question 7:

Which of the following particles contribute significantly to the mass of an atom?

Correct Answer: Protons and Neutrons

Question 8:

What is the atomic number of an element?

Correct Answer: The number of protons

Question 9:

If an atom gains an electron, what type of charge will it have?

Correct Answer: Negative

Question 10:

Which of the following elements is most abundant in living organisms?

Correct Answer: Carbon

Fill in the Blank Questions

Question 1:

A pure substance that cannot be broken down into simpler substances by chemical means is called an ____.

Correct Answer: element

Question 2:

The central core of an atom, containing protons and neutrons, is called the ____.

Correct Answer: nucleus

Question 3:

The number of ______ in the nucleus of an atom determines which element it is.

Correct Answer: protons

Question 4:

Particles with a negative charge that orbit the nucleus of an atom are called ____.

Correct Answer: electrons

Question 5:

The number of protons in an atom is also known as the _____ number.

Correct Answer: atomic

Question 6:

Particles in the nucleus that have no charge are called ____.

Correct Answer: neutrons

Question 7:

Carbon has an atomic number of ____.

Correct Answer: 6

Question 8:

Electrons are held in orbit around the nucleus due to their attraction to positively charged ____.

Correct Answer: protons

Question 9:

If an atom loses an electron, it becomes a positively charged ____.

Correct Answer: ion

Question 10:

The periodic table organizes elements by their atomic number and _____.

Correct Answer: properties

Educational Standards

B.LS1.1:Construct an explanation based on evidence for how the structure of DNA determines the structure of proteins, which carry out the essential functions of life through systems of specialized cells. B.LS1.6:Construct and revise an explanation based on evidence for how carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen from sugar molecules may combine with other elements to form amino acids and/or other large carbon-based molecules.

Teaching Materials

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