Bohr Model Craft Ideas

Model Preparation

• Before building the model, select an atom and then find it in the Periodic Table. Write down the number of protons, neutrons and electrons the atom has. The number of protons and electrons are the same as the atomic number. The number of neutrons is found by subtracting the atomic number from the atomic mass number. For example, an oxygen molecule has an atomic number of 8, and a mass of 16. It therefore has 8 protons, 8 neutrons, and 8 electrons. Calculate which orbit the electrons belong to, or use an electron configuration table to find the information. For example, the first orbital has an electron shell that is labeled 1, with a subshell called s, and it can only contain two electrons. The second orbital has a shell labeled 2, with two subshells s and p, and it can contain up to 8 electrons total.

Picture Drawing

• Create a drawing of the Bohr model with pens, colored markers, and a compass. Draw a small circle in the middle of a sheet of paper. Write ̶0;P̶1; for protons inside of the circle, and write the number of protons next to it. With different colored markers, write ̶0;N̶1; for neutrons, and write the correct number next to it, also. Draw concentric circles to represent the orbits, and create the electrons by labeling them ̶0;e-̶0; several times. As an example, a nitrogen model has 7 protons 7, neutrons, and 7 electrons. The drawing would have ̶0;P 7̶1; and ̶0;N 7̶1; in the middle circle. The first outer circle would have ̶0;e-̶0; written twice, while the second circle would have five of them.

Construction Paper Model

• Place a sheet of construction paper on a flat surface. Cut a circle from yellow construction paper, and use it as the nucleus. Try blue construction paper to create the symbol for the proton, and purple paper for the neutrons. Tape or paste the symbols inside of the yellow circle. Create the orbital circles with black paper that has its middle removed, so that only an outline remains. Cut small red circles for the electrons, and glue or paste them onto the orbits.

Styrofoam Model

• A 3D Bohr model can be made with construction paper, Styrofoam balls, pipe cleaners, thumbtacks, and paint. Start with a large sheet of heavyweight construction paper. Cut the foam balls in half, paint them, and then place them in the middle of the paper. The total amount of protons can be painted onto a representative ball. Create the neutrons from smaller foam balls that are painted a different color. Tie or glue pipe cleaners together to create the orbital circles. Place thumbtacks around the pipe cleaners, to represent the electrons.

Edible Model

• Create a background with a large sheet of wax paper or aluminum foil. Represent the protons with large gumdrops that are blue, orange or green. Draw the number on them with frosting. Use smaller white or yellow gumdrops for the neutrons. Make the electrons with small red jellybeans, and construct the orbits from strings of licorice that are connected together. Instead of candy, create the particles with raisins, peanuts and sunflower seeds. Create the orbits with strings of popcorn.