Grade 07 Science - EC: S7.C.1.1.2

Continuum of Activities

The list below represents a continuum of activities: resources categorized by Standard/Eligible Content that teachers may use to move students toward proficiency. Using LEA curriculum and available materials and resources, teachers can customize the activity statements/questions for classroom use.

This continuum of activities offers:

Instructional activities designed to be integrated into planned lessons
Questions/activities that grow in complexity
Opportunities for differentiation for each student’s level of performance

Grade Levels

7th Grade

Course, Subject

Science

Related Academic Standards / Eligible Content

S7.C.1.1.2 S7.C.1.1.2

Recognize that the atom is the basic building block for all matter.

Activities

List the three particles that compose an atom and their corresponding charges.
Which two particles compose the nucleus of the atom?
What are valence electrons? What is their job?

How are ions and isotopes similar? How are they different?

Cameron told you that atoms are the smallest particles of matter, but cells are the smallest particles of life. Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Use evidence to defend your opinion.

Answer Key/Rubric

Protons have a positive charge. Neutrons are neutral (no charge). Electrons have a negative charge.
An atom’s nucleus is composed of protons and neutrons.
Valence electrons are the electrons found in the outer electron shell of an atom. These electrons interact with the electrons of other elements to form compounds.
Acceptable responses may include, but are not limited to:

Similarities:

Ions and isotopes are both created due to a differing number of particles compared to the most common form of an element’s atom.
Both ions and isotopes are different forms of one element’s atoms.

Differences

An ion is an atom that has a positive or negative charge due to the loss of an electron or a proton. If the atom lost an electron, it will have a positive charge. If it lost a proton, it will have a negative charge.
An isotope is two or more atoms of an element that have a different number of neutrons in the nucleus. This does not affect the overall charge of the atom, but it affects its mass.

Acceptable responses may include, but are not limited to:

Atoms are the building blocks of matter.
Cells are the building blocks of all life.
All living things are made of cells.
Cells are made of matter.
Atoms make up cells.
Different cells contain a different composition of atoms based on the type of cell.
Atoms work together to carry out the functions of a cell.