Unit Overview

Students investigate matter at atomic and molecular levels discovering that appearance reveals nothing about internal structure. Through exploring reactive elements with interactive periodic tables or solving Chef Crystal's molecular mystery, building atom models with electrons and energy levels, testing conservation of mass in chemical reactions, and designing element character profiles, students learn how atomic structure determines everything from reactivity to taste.

  • Lesson 1
    Lesson 1: The Solve: Exploding Substances + Atomic Mystery

    The Solve: Exploding Substances + Atomic Mystery

    Customers are returning Chef Crystal's famous crème brûlée—something is wrong with the taste! Students follow Mosa Mack as she uses a quantum microscope to zoom into the molecular level, discovering that an unlikely collection of atoms and molecules is to blame. By the end, they understand that while substances may look identical to our eyes, their molecular composition tells a completely different story.

  • Lesson 2
    Lesson 2: The Lab: Atomic Modeling

    The Lab: Atomic Modeling

    Students become atom architects. They color, cut, and assemble models showing electrons orbiting in energy levels around the nucleus. Then they explore bonding—discovering that atoms with incomplete outer shells desperately want to bond with other atoms to become stable. Finally, they build molecular models (H₂O, H₂, H₂O₂) using their atom cutouts, presenting findings on why atoms bond and how molecules form. It's kinesthetic chemistry that makes the invisible visible.

  • Lesson 2
    Lesson 2: The Lab Extension: Conservation of Matter

    The Lab Extension: Conservation of Matter

    Does matter appear or disappear during chemical reactions? Students conduct three investigations: (1) observe a lava lamp experiment with Alka-Seltzer, oil, and water; (2) measure mass before and after a balloon-bottle chemical reaction; (3) use color-coded Lego bricks to model chemical equations (carbon + oxygen → carbon dioxide). By weighing, counting, and modeling, they prove the law of conservation of mass—atoms rearrange during reactions, but never disappear.

  • Lesson 3
    Lesson 3: The Engineer: Design an Element Character

    The Engineer: Design an Element Character

    Create an element character profile—complete with personality! Students research an element from the periodic table, learning its atomic number, mass, properties, reactivity, and real-world uses. Then they personify their element: Is Helium bubbly and social because it's so light? Is Iron strong and dependable? They design character cards with drawings and present their element's "personality" based on scientific properties. It's periodic table meets creative storytelling.

  • Next Generation Science Standards
    MS-PS1-1
    Develop models to describe the atomic composition of simple molecules and extended structures. [Clarification Statement: Emphasis is on developing models of molecules that vary in complexity. Examples of simple molecules could include ammonia and methanol. Examples of extended structures could include sodium chloride or diamonds. Examples of molecular level models could include drawings, 3D ball and stick structures, or computer representations showing different molecules with different types of atoms.] [Assessment Boundary: Assessment does not include valence electrons and bonding energy, discussing the ionic nature of subunits of complex structures, or a complete description of all individual atoms in a complex molecule or extended structure is not required.]
    MS-PS1-5
    Develop and use a model to describe how the total number of atoms does not change in a chemical reaction and thus mass is conserved. [Clarification Statement: Emphasis is on law of conservation of matter and on physical models or drawings, including digital forms, that represent atoms.] [Assessment Boundary: Assessment does not include the use of atomic masses, balancing symbolic equations, or intermolecular forces.]
  • Inquiry Scale
    • Each lesson in the unit has an Inquiry Scale that provides directions on how to implement the lesson at the level that works best for you and your students.
    • “Level 1” is the most teacher-driven, and recommended for students in 4th-5th grades. “Level 4” is the most student-driven, and recommended for students in 7th-8th grades.
    • For differentiation within the same grade or class, use different inquiry levels for different groups of students who may require additional support or an extra challenge.
  • Common Misconceptions
    • Learners will often use the terms “atom” and “molecule” interchangeably, so emphasize the difference both in the video and the vocabulary map before proceeding to The Make.
  • Vocabulary
      • Proton
      • Neutron
      • Electron
      • Atom
      • Molecule
      • Bond
      • Sucrose
  • Content Expert
    • Hans C. von Baeyer
      Chancellor Professor of Physics, Emeritus College of William and Mary
  • Leveled Reading

    * To give our users the most comprehensive science resource, Mosa Mack is piloting a partnership with RocketLit, a provider of leveled science articles.

    • Carbon Atoms are Great Dance Partners

      In this article, students learn about what makes carbon so special and why it easily bonds with all kind of different molecules. Through as analogy comparing them to dance partners, the basic ideas behind covalent bonds and electron sharing are explained.

    • If You Were Made of LEGOs

      Students should already know that we aren't all made up of LEGOs, but this article should help them understand that we're all made of matter, we all have mass and that mass is made up of tiny parts called atoms.

    • Drawing an Atom

      The concept of drawing things that are too small to see is tough! This article explains that protons and neutrons are located in the nucleus and electrons move around outside the center of the atom.

    • Atom + Atom = ?

      The tiny parts that make up the universe are constantly breaking and reconnecting. This article explains to students that atoms can combine into the compounds and molecules that make up everything in the universe.

    • Opposites Attract

      In this article, students read about the basics of what makes up an ionic bond. The article starts out with a simple description of electrons and follows by describing cations and anions before connecting the concepts as an ionic bond.

    • Carbon Based Life

      In this article, students read about why carbon-based life forms are all around us. They read about the strong bonds that carbon forms with other atoms and the backbone that carbon forms to create many thing that we depend on to live.

Mosa Mack Science

It looks like you don't have a Mosa Mack account.


Create a free account