Instruct students to cut construction paper circles representing protons, neutrons and electrons. Write a color code for each on the board. For example, protons are red, neutrons are white and electrons are black. Draw a large circle on the board representing the atom's nucleus. As you explain the atomic structure, allow students to tape their proton, neutron or electron color-coded circles in the appropriate locations. Once the visual section of the illustration is complete, discuss the atomic model created and key concepts involving the atomic theory.
Instruct each student to use a small poster board. Discuss J.J. Thomson's discovery of the electron and his "plum pudding" model. Instruct students to draw a line dividing the poster board into two equal sections. Using markers, students can draw an atom based on J.J. Thomson's theory. Give each student a mini-box of raisins. After students pour some of their raisins out, explain how Thomson believed that electrons in an atom resembled raisins in plum pudding. Instruct students to glue raisins onto the "plum pudding" atom model. Instruct students to write, "Thomson, 1904" at the top of the poster board section just completed. On the other half of the board, instruct students to write, "Rutherford, 1911." Discuss Ernest Rutherford's idea that an atom actually had a nucleus with electrons orbiting around it. Instruct students to glue raisins orbiting the nucleus. Discuss both model theories and how Rutherford's model is the foundation for the nuclear atom model in use today.
Instruct students between the grades of nine and 12 to complete the first 12 atoms on the periodic table. This can be achieved by using the SMART Board interactive whiteboard, allowing students to input the information themselves. In the SMART Board Drawing Atoms activity, found at the Minnesota Science Teachers Education Project online, students are introduced to a two-dimensional rendition of the atom. Students can interactively draw two-dimensional atom images as a basis for understanding properties of matter.
Using the SMART Board Notebook on the interactive SMART Board, discuss historical theories leading to the atomic theory. Interactive board lessons can familiarize students with atomic structure, the difference between ions and isotopes and measurements when counting out atoms. Corresponding to lessons on atomic structure for high school students, interactive board lessons can be found and downloaded from SMART Exchange online.