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Instructions
Find radium in the periodic table of the elements. It has an atomic number of 88, which means that is has 88 protons and electrons. Its atomic mass is 226, which indicates that it has 138 neutrons, because 226 minus 88 is 138.
Determine the element's electron shell configuration, which tells how the electrons are divided into orbits. These divisions can be calculated, or found in a configuration table. Radium has two electrons in the first, eight in the second, 18 in the third, 32 in the fourth, 18 in the fifth, eight in the sixth, and two in the seventh.
Tape cardboard sheets together to form a square of 26 inches by 26 inches. Cover the cardboard with construction paper.
Draw an X in the cardboard's middle. The X represents the location of the nucleus. Choose and mark locations for the seven electron orbits. They must be at least 1 inch apart.
Cut two to three 1-inch Styrofoam balls in half. Choose half of them to represent protons, and use the other half to represent neutrons. Paint the protons yellow, and the neutrons purple, and let them dry.
Glue the balls together. Place some at the bottom, flat parts down. Glue others to the top and sides. Alternate the different colors. When they are dry, glue the entire ball to the center of the cardboard. Paint 88P and 138N below the ball, to indicate the total number of protons and neutrons.
Join pipe cleaners to form a circle, and glue it to the cardboard location marked for the first electron orbit. Create six more orbits the same way, and attach them to their predetermined locations, as well.
Glue cotton balls around the orbits to represent the electrons. For example, the first orbit should have two cotton balls, while the second should have eight.