Before embarking on lesson plans such as Teaching About Bohr's Atomic Model, Creating Atomic Models, and Lesson Activities for Stable and Unstable Atoms, students should first have a strong understanding of the meanings of various challenging and new scientific words.
Start by creating a list of words and phrases the students should know before or during the lessons. The list should have at minimum: atom, proton, neutron, electron, nucleus, element, Bohr Model and Periodic Table of Elements. Include additional words and phrases depending on your own variations in the material to be covered.
Atomic Vocabulary Word List
First, decide on the words the students need to know and provide them with a word list. Keep the total number of vocabulary words to less than 25. Use upcoming lesson plans to determine your individualized word list.
Spend some time talking about the words and the definitions with the students. They could write out definitions or flash cards for each word or read from a prepared glossary. To ensure maximum retention of the meanings of the words, try to find ways to engage the imagination of the students, such as with playing games or drawing pictures to illustrate each word in a way to make it memorable. An example of a nice activity for kinesthetic learners would include cutting and pasting definitions to their vocabulary words.
Introducing Atomic Vocabulary
Estimate the current understanding of the vocabulary words of the students. It can be done in any number of ways, including giving a pre-test, providing word puzzles you have created, or playing games similar to Password or Pictionary.
Once you have ascertained the level of understanding of the students, you will be able to decide how much time you will need to spend on vocabulary instruction. If it is minimal, you can either introduce more complex topics and phrases or spend more time on projects and activities. However, if the students are struggling to understand the difference between a nucleus and a neutron, plan to spend more time on vocabulary in order to create a solid base of understanding for future lessons.
Online Atomic Vocabulary Activities
If students have access to computers and the internet, access some fun lesson activities. Sporcle has some timed quizzes including atomic vocabulary. Other sites have games such as hangman, memory, and various types of games for the students to match the definition with the word.
Even if the students don't have computer or internet access, you could modify the games found online to a pencil and paper version. For example, hangman can be played with then entire class using the chalkboard or in pairs at tables or desks. Nearly any online vocabulary activity could be modified for students to play without using computers. Make sure to include the students in any preparation, such as creating memory cards or developing ideas for vocabulary games.
Testing the Vocabulary of Students
After studying and working with the words, you may decide to have some kind of test or quiz to determine if students really comprehend the words and their definitions. To make sure they know the words, have them write the word out next to a provided definition, which is more effective than multiple choice and each time the word is written it imprints itself more strongly in the mind of the student.
The importance of testing is to see which students will struggle with the concepts behind atomic theory because they haven't mastered the vocabulary yet. Try to make time to assist any students who are still struggling. If they are willing to work further on learning the words, give them the opportunity to do a make-up test or quiz. Another idea to help them learn while allowing them to improve their grade is to have them do extra credit on the words they missed.
Further Atomic Vocabulary Ideas
Depending on the learning style of the students, let them suggest or create activities that will help them learn words. If students are unsure what types of activities would be acceptable, provide them with a list to help them get started or let them choose from your list.
- Charades - for dramatic students
- A painting or artistic representation of the word - for the artistic students
- A model or craft including the word - for the hands-on and crafty students
- A simple computer game - for the computer-whiz students
- Research what the word means, its origins, etymology - for curious students who like to find out why things are the way they are
Students will remember the words with confidence after spending a day or two learning and playing with the atomic vocabulary words. Keep note of their favorite vocabulary lesson activities for use with future lessons covering new vocabulary words. By time students know the vocabulary, teaching and learning atomic theory will be so much simpler.
Angela Kleinow - I graduated from the University of Michigan, where I focused on Science Fiction and Fantasy for my senior seminar while working with the ...
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