
Atoms, Molecules, and Ions
Levels 3 and 4

NZC Achievement Objectives

Te Mātauranga o Aotearoa
The Structure of Matter: Develop an understanding of the particle nature of matter and use this to explain observed changes in materials.
Te Hanga Matū: Ka ako haere i te āhua korakora o te matū hei whakamārama i ngā panoni matū e kitea ana.

Learning Intentions

Integration Ideas
Learning Intentions are from the Ministry of Education
Integration ideas are from the Ministry of Education
Level 4
Investigating and grouping common materials, using physical and chemical properties.

Related Topics
Resources

Air is invisible, and it can push things around. Air, like everything else in the universe that you can touch, is made up of molecules, tiny pieces of stuff.
Level
1-4
Type
Experiment
A Wing and Some Air
Bill Nye The Science Guy
Air is invisible, and it can push things around. Air, like everything else in the universe that you can touch, is made up of molecules, tiny pieces of stuff.

What’s the matter? Everything is the matter, everything is made of matter, and Bill Nye will show you how.
Link to video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sIUUg0s8GM
Level
1-4
Type
Video
Atoms and Molecules
Bill Nye The Science Guy
What’s the matter? Everything is the matter, everything is made of matter, and Bill Nye will show you how.
Link to video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sIUUg0s8GM

Static electricity can do some amazing things, find out how you can use it to bend a stream of water using just your hair and a comb.
Level
1-4
Type
Experiment
Bending Water
Science Kids
Static electricity can do some amazing things, find out how you can use it to bend a stream of water using just your hair and a comb.

Te Papa conservator Rangi Te Kanawa uses her knowledge of traditional dyeing practices, science, and scientific experimentation to preserve fibres in textiles that have been dyed using iron-tannate black dyes.
Level
4
Type
Book
Connected 2014 Level 4: ‘Black is Back’
Ministry of Education NZ
Te Papa conservator Rangi Te Kanawa uses her knowledge of traditional dyeing practices, science, and scientific experimentation to preserve fibres in textiles that have been dyed using iron-tannate black dyes.

Sounds are all around us, even if we can’t hear them. Human ears are designed to pick up sound waves of a range of different frequencies, but ultrasonic and infrasonic sounds have frequencies that only certain animals can hear.
Level
4
Type
Book
Connected 2016 Level 4: ‘Can You Hear That?’
Ministry of Education NZ
Sounds are all around us, even if we can’t hear them. Human ears are designed to pick up sound waves of a range of different frequencies, but ultrasonic and infrasonic sounds have frequencies that only certain animals can hear.

Air pollution is a problem in many cities, including Christchurch. After the 2011 earthquake, a team of researchers used technology and big data to help make Christchurch a healthier, smarter city to live in.
Level
4
Type
Book
Connected 2017 Level 4: ‘Sensing Data’
Ministry of Education NZ
Air pollution is a problem in many cities, including Christchurch. After the 2011 earthquake, a team of researchers used technology and big data to help make Christchurch a healthier, smarter city to live in.

Wellington designer Rachael Hall has developed a modern version of the traditional Tongan lali. Called Patō, Rachael’s drum keeps the traditional sound of a lali but incorporates digital capabilities. Her hope is that Patō will allow musicians to mix traditional Pacific sounds with modern music.
Level
3
Type
Book
Connected 2018 Level 3: ‘South Pacific Beats’
Ministry of Education NZ
Wellington designer Rachael Hall has developed a modern version of the traditional Tongan lali. Called Patō, Rachael’s drum keeps the traditional sound of a lali but incorporates digital capabilities. Her hope is that Patō will allow musicians to mix traditional Pacific sounds with modern music.

Talking about renewable energy, Dr Michelle Dickinson will cover the science of how to make electricity and carry out a hands-on experiment while talking about solar cells with Professor Justin Hodgkiss from The MacDiarmid Institute.
Level
3-4
Type
Video
Energy and Electricity: BREAKING IT DOWN Episode 5
Nanogirl
Talking about renewable energy, Dr Michelle Dickinson will cover the science of how to make electricity and carry out a hands-on experiment while talking about solar cells with Professor Justin Hodgkiss from The MacDiarmid Institute.

Watch Bill Nye go with the flow in the “Fluids” episode.
Link to video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWtETy5eW1M
Level
1-4
Type
Video
Fluids
Bill Nye The Science Guy
Watch Bill Nye go with the flow in the “Fluids” episode.
Link to video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWtETy5eW1M

Kids will love learning about crystals while they enjoy a range of great crystal activities that include making their own, crystal panning and much more.
Level
1-4
Type
Activity
Fun with Crystals
Science Kids
Kids will love learning about crystals while they enjoy a range of great crystal activities that include making their own, crystal panning and much more.

Covering the structure and function of DNA and its role in inheritance, Dr. Michelle Dickinson will carry out a hands-on experiment and talk about genetics and cancer research with Dr Melanie McConnell from the Victoria University of Wellington.
Level
3-4
Type
Video
Genetics and DNA: BREAKING IT DOWN Episode 8
Nanogirl
Covering the structure and function of DNA and its role in inheritance, Dr. Michelle Dickinson will carry out a hands-on experiment and talk about genetics and cancer research with Dr Melanie McConnell from the Victoria University of Wellington.

Next time you throw a ball in the air, and it doesn’t fly off into outer space, thank gravity.
Link to video: https://www.schooltube.com/media/Bill+Nye+Gravity/1_50ttw7hz
Level
1-4
Type
Video
Gravity
Bill Nye The Science Guy
Next time you throw a ball in the air, and it doesn’t fly off into outer space, thank gravity.
Link to video: https://www.schooltube.com/media/Bill+Nye+Gravity/1_50ttw7hz

Watch what happens to the air inside a balloon as you heat it up, does it act differently or stay the same? Let's find out!
Level
1-4
Type
Experiment
Heating up Air
Science Kids
Watch what happens to the air inside a balloon as you heat it up, does it act differently or stay the same? Let's find out!

Everything around us is made of atoms and molecules. Surprisingly, atoms and molecules are made up mostly of empty space. Here’s a simple experiment to prove that a glass of water molecules contains a whole lot of nothing. Well, a lot of space.
Level
1-4
Type
Experiment
Hole-y Water
Bill Nye The Science Guy
Everything around us is made of atoms and molecules. Surprisingly, atoms and molecules are made up mostly of empty space. Here’s a simple experiment to prove that a glass of water molecules contains a whole lot of nothing. Well, a lot of space.

They’re on your refrigerator, they’re inside your computer, and you’re even standing on one right now. They’re magnets, and forget about being repulsed. Bill Nye the Science Guy’s “Magnetism” episode is totally attractive.
Level
1-4
Type
Video
Magnetism
Bill Nye The Science Guy
They’re on your refrigerator, they’re inside your computer, and you’re even standing on one right now. They’re magnets, and forget about being repulsed. Bill Nye the Science Guy’s “Magnetism” episode is totally attractive.

Make a crystal snowflake using borax and a few other easy too find items. Enjoy the experiment, learn about crystals and keep your finished snowflake as a beautiful decoration.
Level
1-4
Type
Activity
Make a Snowflake
Science Kids
Make a crystal snowflake using borax and a few other easy too find items. Enjoy the experiment, learn about crystals and keep your finished snowflake as a beautiful decoration.