Fun with Atoms:

Atom Building Game

Welcome!
 Who is CPO Science?
Developer and publisher of
inquiry-based science curriculum
and hands-on materials
How many have heard of CPO
Science?
Sample materials at your table
PLEASE LEAVE FOR OTHER
WORKSHOPS WE CAN MAIL
 How is CPO Science
Different?
We design and manufacture
high quality science equipment
and INCLUDE IT with purchase
of textbook sets
We support guided inquiry
through extensive teacher
support material and reader-
friendly texts
We offer strong science
content that is a blend of
What Subject Areas?
High School: Physical Science,
Earth/Space Science, Physics
First, CP Physics
Middle School: Earth, Life,
Physical
Visit the booth
Request samples with raffle
forms at end of workshop
Now for the fun!
 Key Questions
What are atoms
and how are
they put
together?
What does
atomic
structure have
to do with the
periodic table?
Subatomic Particles
What three basic
particles make up all
atoms?
Subatomic Particles

Protons
Neutrons
Electrons
Subatomic Particles
The marbles represent
these particles. Can
you guess which
marble represents
which particle?
Subatomic Particles
Now see if you can
determine which are
protons and which are
neutrons:
Building Atoms
Group 1:
Several groups build an atom
7 blues, 6 reds, 6 yellows
with:
Group 2:
15 yellows, 16 blues, 15 reds
Group 3:
8 yellows, 8 reds, and 9 blues
 The game of Atomic
Challenge
4 players or teams per board
Each player starts with 6
blues, 5 reds, and 5 yellows in
their board pocket.
Each player takes turns
adding marbles to the atom
(up to 5 per turn) to make
real, stable atoms.
The first player to lose all
their marbles wins!!!
Atom Building
Reminders
 Building Atoms using
Nuclear Particle Cards
Each player starts with 7 of each color
in the board pocket.
4 players or teams per board
Shuffle cards and deal 5 per player
On each turn, play a card and add or
take particles as the card instructs
On some turns you will score points; on
other turns you will not (you may be
blocking an opponent)
Scoring Points: If your
move
Creates or leaves a stable
nucleus, you score 1 point
Creates or leaves a neutral
atom, you score 1 point
Creates a perfect, neutral
atom with a stable nucleus,
you score 3 points
First person to 15 points
wins!
Light and the Atom

Atoms absorb and then emit energy with their electrons

When the energy emitted falls within the visible
spectrum we see it as light
Laser Light
AnAcronym - Light
Amplification by Stimulated
Emission of Radiation
Monochromatic

In-Phase

Coherent

Many Uses
The game of Photons &
Lasers
Teaches players about how light is
absorbed and emitted from atoms
The objective of the game is to score
points by stimulating excited electrons
to lase, emitting photons of light
Players play pump cards to excite the
atom by moving electrons up energy
levels
Players score points by playing lase
cards and moving electrons back down
energy levels
Setting Up Photons &
Lasers
To begin, the atom should be set up for a
specific element
Neon 20 is a good choice with 10 each of
protons, neutrons, and electrons
The electrons should all start in the
lowest possible levels the ground state
Each player is dealt 5 cards from the
shuffled deck of Photon & Lasers cards
Play consists of moving electrons up and
down energy levels, the nucleus remains
unchanged.
Pump Cards
Pump cards represent photons of
light absorbed by the atom
An absorbed photon raises a
single electron the number of
energy levels corresponding to
the energy (color) of the photon
shown on the card
No points are scored with pump
cards, but the atom is raised to
an excited state which can later
be used to earn points by playing
laser cards.
Laser Cards
Laser cards represent the
emission of light from the
atom, matching the energy
(color) of the stimulating
photon
Playing a laser card allows the
player to move as many
electrons as possible down the
number of energy levels
specified on the card
Scoring Points
In any given turn electrons may be
moved from one level only and only to
unfilled states in the appropriate lower
level
The total number of electrons moved
down (lased) multiplied by the number of
energy levels indicated on the laser card
equals the points for that turn
1 electron moved 2 levels = 1 x 2 = 2
points
3 electrons moved 2 levels = 3 x 2 = 6
points