Pass out play dough, beads and popcorn kernels to each child. Each child should roll their dough into a hand-sized ball.
Ask the children to stuff a few beads and popcorn kernels inside the play dough so they are hidden inside. The balls should look the same as before they stuffed them.
Trade each child's ball with another child. Each child should have another student's ball. Pass out toothpicks to the children.
Pick through the play dough to find how many beads and popcorn kernels are inside. The children should dig around inside their balls to find the hidden beads and popcorn kernels.
Explain that scientists learned about atoms like this activity. They couldn't see the atoms and they learned about them through indirect methods, which is like using a toothpick to try to find the tiny beads and popcorn kernels inside the play dough.
Write a song about atoms for the children or find one through websites such as Science Spot or Songs for Teaching (see Resources). It should explain simply the science concepts about atoms, such as atoms are made up of protons, neutrons and electrons.
Pass the song out to the class or write it on the chalkboard. Set the song to a familiar tune that the children already know. This will make singing the song easier to remember.
Sing the song with the kids. If you have accompanying music, play the music while singing the atom song.
Repeat the singing a few times until the kids understand the science concepts.
Draw a nucleus on a dry erase board with a dry erase marker. This activity will help students visualize the Bohr model.
Add three energy shells around the nucleus. Pass out the lima and lentil beans. The lima beans represent the protons and neutrons, while the split peas are the neutrons in the nucleus.
Call out the element nitrogen, for example, and the students should be able to place the beans in the right areas.
Place seven neutrons and seven protons in the nucleus for nitrogen using the split peas.
Put two lima beans for electrons in the first energy level and five lima beans in the second energy level. Check the kids for accuracy and call out other elements for the children to make Bohr bean models with.