6th Grade Physical Science - The Particles of Matter

  

How can particles combine to produce a substance with different properties?   Sixth grade science students are using online simulations to discover the multiple answers to this question.  "Build an Atom" and "Build a Molecule" are two PHET simulations that allow students to manipulate protons, neutrons, and electrons to see how the mass and electrical charge of the elements change. They are using the NGSS crosscutting concepts of looking for patterns and finding cause and effect to observe the results of adding or removing a particle from the atom. It is taking a lot of concentration, but students are thinking like a proton and staying positive, or is that thinking like an electron ...