how Lizzy made an atom model

Lizzy was allowed to choose the topic for her last school project. It didn't surprise me that she chose a topic - Atoms and Molecules - which involved making a model.

So we set off to the craft store for some polystyrene balls; got hold of some poster paint, craft glue and wire (the wire hoop from the pink net which used to hang above Lizzy's bed proved to be just the thing); looked up ideas on the internet; and got cracking.

Here's how we did it.

Lizzy painted some medium-sized polystyrene balls blue for the protons.

She painted some medium-sized polystyrene balls red for the neutrons.

She painted some small polystyrene balls green for the electrons.

She glued the blue and red polystyrene balls together with strong craft glue to represent a nucleus.

She screwed an eye hook into the top of the "nucleus".

She threaded the "electrons" onto the wire.

She formed the wire into hoops (with help!) and held it with strong tape.

We tied the nucleus and hoops together using fishing line.

Voila! One model of an atom.

And it was a lot easier to make than this!