Particle and atomic models

Strengthen your knowledge and explore teaching strategies for particle theory, the atomic model and atomic structure

Particle theory, the atomic model and atomic structure are key foundational topics in chemistry. By completing this course, you’ll strengthen your subject knowledge and discover teaching strategies to support your learners’ progress. The course has three modules, covering learner age groups from 11 to 18.

Build your confidence at your own pace, with videos, multiple choice questions, discussion threads, and activities to help you apply what you learn in your own classroom.

Enrol and register  FAQs

This course is available in the UK, EU and other selected countries.  If you’re a teacher in the UK or Ireland, make sure you’ve claimed your fully funded Teach Chemistry  membership: benefits include discounts to our professional development courses.

At a glance

  • Format: self-led online learning
  • Cost: £225 + VAT
  • Total length: approx. 6 hours
  • Available in: UK, EU and other selected countries
A colourful, abstract illustration of a woman sitting a desk in front of a computer monitor. On the monitor are diagrams of various atomic and particle models.

Course objectives

The course will help you to:

  • develop your subject knowledge of particle theory, the atomic model, atomic structure, and mass spectrometry
  • improve your pedagogical content knowledge, equipping you with the best ways to enhance learner understanding
  • identify and challenge specific learner misconceptions in these topics.

Course modules

  • Particle model (ages 11+)

    • States of matter
    • Changes of state
    • Solutions
    • Diffusion

  • Atomic model (ages 14+)

    • Particle diagrams
    • Atomic structure
    • Atoms and ions
    • Atoms and isotopes

  • Atomic structure (ages 16+)

    • Fundamental particles, mass number and isotopes
    • Mass spectrometry
    • Electron configuration and ionisation energies

Ready to enrol?

Your journey towards delivering better lessons and improving learner outcomes starts whenever you’re ready.

Enrol and register

FAQs

Who is the course for?

This course is suitable for teachers at any career stage, particularly those new to teaching, returning from a break, or changing focus from another subject.

Will I receive a certificate?

You will receive a certificate for each completed module, and a certificate of course completion if you complete all modules. To qualify for the certificates, you must complete all required tasks.

What if I don’t want to complete all modules?

You can take whichever modules you are interested in, but you will only receive a certificate of course completion once you have completed all of the modules and required tasks.

Which countries is the course available in?

This course is currently available in the following countries: Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, China, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guernsey, Hong Kong S.A.R. China, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Isle of Man, Italy, Japan, Jersey, Jordan, Kuwait, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macao S.A.R. China, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States.

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Our course authors

Dorothy Warren

Dorothy Warren

Dorothy is an independent science education consultant based in the UK.

Tim Jolliff stands and smiles with foliage in the background

Tim Jolliff

Tim is an independent, UK based science education consultant and former chemistry teacher of 30 years.