Happy Atoms Introductory Set by Thames and Kosmos is a revolutionary approach to teaching chemistry. This physical and digital kit lets you discover the world of molecules in an intuitive, hands-on way. Many people think of chemistry as complicated and hard to grasp. New technology now enables us to take this innovative approach to teaching chemistry and help make it more tangible. Younger students can use Happy Atoms Introductory Set by Thames and Kosmos to jumpstart their chemistry education, and older students can use the system to make chemistry more tangible, visualize complex molecules, and reinforce their chemistry studies.
Using a set of 17 atom models representing 6 different elements, you can assemble your own molecular models. The atoms stick together easily with magnets: metal tips on the ends of rubbery arms, which represent free electrons, snap onto magnetic bonding sites on the atom spheres, which represent empty spots for electrons in the atom’s outermost electron shell.
But how do you know what the molecule you’ve snapped together is? You use the included app for iPad® and iPhone® to snap its picture, and the app uses state-of-the-art image recognition technology to identify the molecule. The app recognizes tens of thousands of molecules. It presents detailed information about 120 of the most important molecules, such as a molecule’s usage, properties, hazards, formula, and structure. The app takes you on guided quests to discover new molecules and learn about them. You can track your progress with the app, collecting sets of molecules that you have built and explored.
Build – experiment by snapping together atoms to form molecules or follow detailed step by step instructions for 52 molecules. Discover the common properties and bonding behaviours of atoms, such as what kinds of molecules tend to include hydrogen and how carbon easily makes long chains that form the backbone of life on our planet.
Discover – discover the identoties of the molecules you make by scanning them with the app.
Explore – explore the molecules you discover, assemble collections and complete guided chemistry tasks in the app.
Educational Benefits of Happy Atoms Introductory Set by Thames and Kosmos:
- See the differences between atoms.
- Feel the forces that bond atoms together.
- Experiment with ways to combine atoms.
- Discover the relationships between them
- Makes an abstract concept visual, kinaesthetic and concrete
- develop an in depth understanding about elements and molecules
- develop knowledge about particular elements and molecules
Contents: 16 page manual with 73 activities, 17 atoms (8 x H, 3 x C, 2 x N, 2 x O, 1 x Na, 1 x Cl . Happy Atoms sets include a mat that is white on one side to provide an optimal scanning surface for the molecules and printed with the periodic table on the other side. Age 10 – 17 years.
You can download an example lesson plan from Happy Atoms Example Lesson Plan.
Age 10 years – adult.
Chemistry is the science of materials, their properties, and how they react with each other. All materials are made of atoms. Why do some atoms combine with each other while other atoms do not? Because atoms just want to be happy!
Of course, atoms don’t really have feelings. But they do have observable behaviors. And atoms tend to be more stable, or “happy,” when they have certain numbers of electrons whizzing around their cores. Where do they find extra electrons if they need more to be happy? From other atoms that have too many electrons, of course! When atoms share or exchange electrons to be happy, they stick together. Happy atoms form molecules.
