Nice interactive game that lets students build atoms and molecules
Community Review for NOVA Elements
My Take
The game that lets students build atoms and molecules is a nice learning tool. It could be better if it would display atomic number and atomic weight as the student adds protons and neutrons; that would allow students to discover the meanings of those terms for students. Also, the app starts with sound on and a narration from David Pogue. The audio can be turned off, but it should not come on at the start by default.
How I Use It
I would use this in middle school to help students learn how protons, neutrons, and electrons build atoms and affect atomic number and atomic weight. This would be useful as a reinforcement activity; it could be a discovery activity with an addition (see "My Take"). This is probably best for middle school students; I could see high school chemistry students using this as review at the beginning of the year, but probably not much more.