Atoms to Elephant

Atoms to Elephants

​Let's build an elephant...from atoms!

You may be wondering where to even start, but don’t worry. Just follow along, use your brain, and we’ll end up with a smart, plump, grey elephant in no time. We will first start from the smallest unit of “things”, atoms, and work our way up to this large land mammal. Let’s begin! 

First things first,

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what are atoms?

Answer these questions to find out what you know and don’t know about atoms, the smallest unit of “thing” (Remember, I grade based on effort!): 

Open Ended

So far, what do you know about atoms? List everything you know about atoms?

Multiple Select

Which of these is a picture of an atom?

​Sorry, that was a trick question:

All 4 are pictures of atoms. Recently, scientists discovered a way to see atoms under a microscope (the last two pictures). That's crazy!

Multiple Choice

Is there more than one KIND or TYPE of atom?

• Yes

• No

Multiple Choice

Do all atoms look the same? 

• Yes

• No

Ok, now that we have a general idea about atoms, let the fun begin!

Let’s get to know the different kinds of atoms (or building blocks) that exist on earth first, before you get started on making an elephant. 

 

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1. ​Look at the periodic table of “things”.(open in new tab)

    

2. View the Key: Find the “Key” button in the top-left corner. The key will show you how to read this table. 

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3. ​Take some time to explore the table on your own one element at a time. 

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​All living things are made of MOSTLY these 6 elements:​

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1. ​Find these 6 elements on the periodic table of things.

2. ​Using the table, note down one interesting fact about each element:

• ​Oxygen:

• Carbon:

• Hydrogen:

• Nitrogen:

• Sulphur:

• Phosphorus:

Open Ended

Oxygen:

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Carbon:

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Hydrogen:

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Sulphur:

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Phosphorus:

​Check out this picture that shows you how much of each element is found in the human body:

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Cool isn’t it? I know we’re not trying to build a human, but did you know humans share roughly 90% of our DNA with elephants?  .

So, what do we know so far?

Atoms, the building block of everything on earth, come in different types, called elements.

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Let’s dive deeper into these atoms/elements individually...

Let’s work through this “Making Matter” simulation. (on next slide)

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​Complete as many elements as you need to until you understand the following:

• Every element has symbols that are 1-2 letters (for ex: He (helium), H (hydrogen), Cu (Copper), C (Carbon)

• Every element has unique properties (ex: gas, liquid, solid, green, blue, heavy, light, shiny, sticky, texture)

• Every element has an atomic number (and not randomly numbered) that tells us how many Protons & Electrons an atom of that element has.

• Atomic Weight - Atomic Number = # of Neutrons

• Protons and Neutrons are located in the nucleus (the center) of every atom.

• Electrons are found buzzing all around outside the nucleus just like annoying flies.

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Ok, enough with getting to know the elements.

Atoms on their own are cool and all, but what happens...when they come together! Atoms are useless on their own. There’s strength in numbers!

So, objects, people, and everything in general are formed when the atoms unite to form...MOLECULES! That means 2 or more atoms bonded together is called a molecule.

Continue building until 3 collections are completed, or until time runs out.

​Think about: What do the subscripts (or the little numbers next to the letters) mean?

​So, let’s build a molecule! (on next slide)

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Open Ended

What do the subscripts (or the little numbers next to the letters) mean? 

​Fun fact:

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The same elements found in you, are also found in space. As far as up to trillions of light years away on a planet or comet.

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Technically, we are star dust!

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​So, we started at atoms...

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figured out that atoms bind together to form molecules...so what now?

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How far are we from a completed elephant? Patience, my dear AIT. Did you really think making a whole animal would be that easy? We’re skipping over a mountain of process to be here.

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​Despite the incredible discoveries scientists have made from cloning sheep to being able to have a conversation with someone face-to-face millions of miles away, they have never figured out to this day to make a whole animal, much less a fingernail or plant from scratch.

​So, let’s take a look at this infographic that shows how each element is used in an organism. (click on picture for larger image)

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​So, Formation of organs? Check.

bodily functions? Check.

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These elements have definitely proved to be vital to life itself!

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Now, we could go further but that would go into biology, and we’re not there...yet. So, just throw some wrinkly skin on that thing and call it an elephant!

Let's Recap:

​Nothing—> Atom —> Molecules —> organelles —> cells —> 

tissues —> organs —> organ systems —> Elephant 

Reorder

Reorder the following:

• organs=>organ systems=> elephant

• atom=> molecules

• molecules=> organelles

• organelles=>cells

• cells=> tissues

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Poll

How helpful was this lesson?

• This was boring

• Could have been better

• I learned a lot...I like this style of learning

• No opinion

• This was too difficult/too fast for me