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Carbon Atom Mobile

Carbon Atom Mobile

Carbon is the common element of all known life. Explore its structure and create a carbon atom mobile.

Lesson Plan

Supplies Needed

Gather all the supplies needed to bring your craft ideas to life! From paints and markers to glue and scissors, our crafts section has everything to spark creativity and make every project truly special.

  • Cotton Balls
  • Heavy Paper
  • String

Steps

  • Step 1

    Carbon is the foundation of all living things. It can form organic and inorganic compounds. It is found in diamonds, graphite, and in the air we breathe. Display images of a carbon atom. Note the placement of its components: nucleus, protons, electrons, neutrons.

  • Step 2

    Have students learn more about the carbon atom. Ask them to define nucleus, proton, electron, neutron, valence, organic, and inorganic. Have them learn how carbon binds to other atoms.

  • Step 3

    Ask students to construct a mobile depicting the carbon atom. Have them cut a small circle for the nucleus and two rings - one medium and one larger - out of heavy paper, then attach craft pom-poms or cotton balls that they color with markers to the rings to show the configuration of protons, neutrons, and electrons around the nucleus of the atom. Put holes in the rings and attach them with string to create a hanging mobile.

Standards

SCI: Convey designs through sketches, detailed drawings, or physical models to communicate ideas and solutions.

SCI: Develop models to describe the atomic composition of simple molecules and extended structures.

SCI: Use relative scales tht allow objects and events to be compared and described.

Adaptations

Have students investigate the carbon cycle, carbon sequestration, and carbon sinks. How is climate change affecting the cycle?

Have students learn about the use of carbon dating. Ask them to explore one of the oldest natural mummies - Ötzi "The Iceman" who lived between 3350 and 3105 B.C.E. Scientists determined his age using carbon dating. They also found that he had 61 tattoos which were created using carbon pigment.