Visualizing vocabulary in the science classroom can be a very powerful tool. I have found that having students draw what they are thinking is more valuable than having them copy the definition from the back of the textbook. However, visualizing vocabulary in chemistry can be a little difficult. We don’t focus on the whole object, we want to know what the atoms are doing. Let me tell you a story about how my classroom was transformed by introducing the concept of particle diagrams.
Let’s go Back to My First Year Teaching…
About ten years ago now I was a first-year chemistry teacher in rural Indiana. In the beginning, I was super proud of myself because my students were scoring well on their assessments, but when I would ask them to explain the different chemical phenomena they were seeing in the lab, they simply couldn’t. I realized that my students were great at learning the definitions, but not great at interpreting or making inferences.
I scoured the internet for aid and stumbled upon several tools that I could add to my arsenal, one of which was particle diagrams. We used particle diagrams all the time but I’d never had my students draw them themselves. What a simple idea.
As soon as I started incorporating particle diagrams my students were better able to explain their own thought processes. I started in January by asking them to draw particle diagrams for chemical reactions and continued to use them throughout the year. I was amazed at my students’ growth and have been using particle diagrams in the classroom now for ten years and will never go back.
If you’d like a free download of my Demystifying Student Particle Diagrams Guide, click here!
What are particle diagrams?
Particle diagrams are scientific drawings at the atomic level. I know you’ve seen them in chemistry textbooks before. The most common particle diagrams are those for solids, liquids, and gasses. Many chemistry teachers do have their students draw these, but they can be used all year!
A single circle (or another shape) represents a single atom. Two or more circles touching is a molecule. From these two initial drawings, students can represent elements, compounds, and mixtures. They can even represent temperature, pressure, and volume.
Without further ado – 3 easy and powerful ways to use particle diagrams in chemistry!
1 – Using Particle Diagrams to Show Student Thinking
We all know students aren’t always the best at communicating their ideas. We often have to give them the tools to do that. In my chemistry classroom, that’s the particle diagram. I have them show their thinking in a couple of ways.
Whiteboarding
I could go on and on about using whiteboards in class. But did you know you don’t just have to use whiteboards for math review? Yes, you too can hand out whiteboards and ask students to draw particle diagrams! And then right then and there you have a visual representation of student misconceptions!
After Lab Discussions
I’m going to admit, I don’t do this nearly enough. Who has the time to discuss every single lab? You do the lab, answer the questions, turn it in. Boom. Done. But what if you spent the whole day after the lab really digging into what students observed? To do this I have students answer the same two questions:
- Draw a particle diagram representing your particles before and after the reaction.
- What evidence from the lab supports your claim?
Sometimes students are totally off-base, but that’s ok. This is a “making meaning” meeting. By giving your students the time to really think about and communicate their ideas, you’re able to address misconceptions right away. And I’m telling you, you will not be the only one in the room addressing misconceptions. Your students will become your allies and their comfort with chemical discussions will increase.
2 – Using Particle Diagrams as a Teaching tool
Ok, so I think the most obvious way to incorporate particle diagrams into your classroom is to teach with them. Whenever I can draw a particle diagram, I do. This allows me to model my thought process to my students. I have particle diagrams in my notes but I also draw them on my board regularly. If my students are struggling with a new concept I might stop the class and ask “what’s really going on with our particles?” and I’ll draw them, helping my students get back to the heart of the matter – chemical phenomena.
3 – Using Particle Diagrams as an Assessment Tool
I know, I know. One more thing to add to your assessments. But I promise it’s worth it! I do this in several ways.
Yep, good ole multiple choice. If you prefer to give multiple-choice tests there’s no reason you can’t include particle diagrams. You can draw one and ask what the particle diagram represents OR you can have them select the correct particle diagram. Either way, you will need to create the particle diagrams yourself and add them to your assessment. I usually do this in PowerPoint, save them as images, and then upload them to my school’s Learning Management System (we use Schoology).
Matching particle diagrams
Similar to Multiple Choice, you’re going to have to create these images (either digitally or take a photo of your hand-drawn work). Give students a list of vocabulary words to match to the different particle diagrams and voila, you can easily see if students understand the difference between pure substances and mixtures!
“Short Answer” for particle diagrams
This is probably the most powerful assessment type for particle diagrams. Ask your students to draw specific particle diagrams. Do not give them a “word bank” or “picture bank”. Without prompts, your students have to show you what they know. Bonus, you don’t have to create the particle diagrams yourself. Not so bonus, you actually have to look at them. No easy grading for you. But I will say grading particle diagrams is much easier than grading traditional short answer questions. There is no trying to discern what a student meant even though they have terrible handwriting.
If you want to know more about particle diagrams, check out my particle diagram index. If you’d like more direction in reading student particle diagrams, check out my Demystifying Student Particle Diagrams Guide.
Alright friends, that’s it. Three simple ways to incorporate particle diagrams into your chemistry classroom. I hope you found these ideas helpful. It can seem overwhelming at first, so I’m going to challenge you to start with just one first. I encourage you to start with whiteboarding, but you can start anywhere. Good Luck, friends!
For more ideas on integrating particle diagrams, you may want to check out:
Simple Activities to Integrate Particle-Level Diagrams
Creating Interactive Particle Diagram Activities for Online Instruction
