Super Science with #Elmer's #GluenGlitter #CBias

As a teacher I try to find activities which will keep my students engaged and interested in our subject. Over the years I've learned hands-on activities work well with most students. Combined with research, this can create an activity they *almost* enjoy doing. (Truthfully, I haven't meant many students who are thrilled with research.) Since my son is studying Biology and recently completed an unit on Atoms, I recruited a couple of volunteers from my World History class, who also have Biology, to make a 3D model of an atom.

We started with a visit to pick up Elmer's Craft Supplies from our local Walmart. I needed glue and didn't realize the many varieties of crafting glue available. I finally chose the Craft Bond All Purpose Glue stick that worked on several surfaces.

No science project would be complete without an Elmer's Tri-fold board. We chose a white background but the black or blue backgrounds might have added a "pop" factor to our project.

This project would be good for any students from upper elementary to high school students by adjusting the amount of research required. You'll need the following supplies:

1 Elmer's Tri-Fold Board (in your choice of background)
1 Elmer's Craft Bond All Purpose Glue Stick
1 6" wooden circle
6 wooden dowels (12 inches in length)
1 package of multicolored craft beads
1 bottle of craft paint, color of your choice
1 package of sticky letters
1/2 of a clear plastic ornament
4 to 5 sheets colored paper (we used red, blue, orange, and yellow)

Begin by painting the wooden circle and the wooden dowels. Cut the wooden dowels at the 7" inch mark. When they have dried, place the wooden circle in the center of the tri-fold board. Glue 10 dowels around the circle, varying the sizes to add contrast.

This is the tricky part. Fill the half of the plastic ornament with 10 yellow beads (to represent protons) and 10 red beads ( to represent neutrons. Glue the ornament onto the wooden circle. Glue blue beads (to represent electrons) onto the board at the end of the dowels.

We added the title "Atomic Structure" to the top of the center of the tri-fold board and the titles of our reports (Atoms, Neutrons, Protons, and Electrons) to the bottom of the tri-fold board with the sticky letter.

We completed our project by mounting the reports onto various colored paper and gluing them onto the sides of the board. When it was finished, we thought it looked like an atom model. The beads move around inside the ornament to look like "real" protons and neutrons. Just be sure the glue has completely dried before standing the board upright for display. We were a little hasty and experienced a shower of beads.

Check out my Google Plus story of our shopping trip.

“This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias. #CBias. All opinions are my own.