Atoms & MoleculesGrade 6 Science for Kids

Elements, compounds, metals and how chemical reactions rearrange atoms.

Atoms & Molecules helps sixth graders sort elements from compounds, sort metals and nonmetals on the periodic table and follow atoms as they rearrange in a chemical reaction. A clear first step into chemistry.

  • Grade 6 · Ages 11–12
  • 3 lessons
  • 3 experiments
  • 12 practice questions
  • About 25 min
Start Learning Free Open the Course
  • Elements and Compounds
  • Element or Compound?
  • Metals and Nonmetals
  • Periodic Sort
  • Atoms Rearrange
  • Reaction Steps

Science lab course · Grade 6

Atoms & Molecules · Learning goals

What Your Child Will Learn

Sort elements from compounds, sort metals and nonmetals on the periodic table, and follow atoms as they rearrange in a reaction.

  • Elements have one kind of atom. Compounds have different atoms joined together.
  • Metals are shiny conductors. Nonmetals are often dull or gases and don't conduct well.
  • In a reaction, atoms rearrange into new substances, and the total mass stays the same.

Why it matters

Why This Matters for Kids

  • Everything is made of atoms

    Atoms and molecules are the foundation of all chemistry and much of physics.

  • The periodic table

    Getting familiar with the periodic table now makes middle school chemistry easier.

  • Reactions explained

    Kids learn that atoms are rearranged, not created or destroyed, in a reaction.

Inside Atoms & Molecules

How the Course Works

Each level has a short read-aloud lesson, an interactive experiment and a mini quiz.

  1. Step 1 · Lesson

    Elements and Compounds

    Everything is made of atoms, far too small to see even with a normal microscope.

  2. Step 2 · Experiment

    Element or Compound?

    Let's check the atoms inside each substance. Is it one kind of atom or several joined together?

  3. Step 3 · Lesson

    Metals and Nonmetals

    The periodic table lists all known elements: 118 of them!

  4. Step 4 · Experiment

    Periodic Sort

    Let's sort these elements from the periodic table into metals and nonmetals.

  5. Step 5 · Lesson

    Atoms Rearrange

    In a chemical reaction, atoms break apart and join in new ways.

  6. Step 6 · Experiment

    Reaction Steps

    Let's zoom in on baking soda and vinegar reacting. Put the steps in order.

Lesson preview

A Peek Inside the Lesson

This is the real lesson text your child hears, read aloud by a friendly voice.

Elements and Compounds

Everything is made of atoms, far too small to see even with a normal microscope.

An element is made of only one kind of atom, like gold or oxygen.

A compound is two or more kinds of atoms joined together, like water (H₂O).

Metals and Nonmetals

The periodic table lists all known elements: 118 of them!

Metals are shiny, bendable and conduct heat and electricity.

Nonmetals are often dull or gases, and most don't conduct electricity.

Atoms Rearrange

In a chemical reaction, atoms break apart and join in new ways.

Atoms are never created or destroyed. They just rearrange.

So the mass before a reaction equals the mass after: the law of conservation of mass.

For parents

Try It at Home

Learning sticks best when kids use it in real life. Here are simple ideas from this course.

Parent Tip

Read food or cleaning labels together and look for elements and compounds, like sodium chloride (table salt).

Element or Compound?

  1. Build molecules with marshmallows and toothpicks.
  2. Water: 1 big (oxygen) + 2 small (hydrogen).
  3. Carbon dioxide: 1 carbon + 2 oxygen.

Elements have one kind of atom. Compounds have different atoms joined together.

Periodic Sort

  1. Find 3 metal things and 3 nonmetal things at home.
  2. Which are shiny? Which bend?
  3. Which feel cold to touch? (Metals carry heat away fast.)

Metals are shiny conductors. Nonmetals are often dull or gases and don't conduct well.

Reaction Steps

  1. Weigh a bottle of vinegar with baking soda in a balloon on top.
  2. Tip the soda in and let it react.
  3. Weigh it again (balloon on): the mass is the same!

In a reaction, atoms rearrange into new substances, and the total mass stays the same.

Practice

Grade 6 Science Practice Questions

Real questions from Atoms & Molecules. Try them with your child, then tap to see the answer.

  1. Question 1

    What is an element?

    • A.A substance with one kind of atom
    • B.A mix of many things
    • C.A type of cell
    Show answer

    A substance with one kind of atom

  2. Question 2

    How many elements are on the periodic table?

    • A.12
    • B.118
    • C.1,000
    Show answer

    118

  3. Question 3

    What happens to atoms in a reaction?

    • A.They are destroyed
    • B.They are created
    • C.They rearrange
    Show answer

    They rearrange

The full course has 12 questions with instant feedback, stars and rewards. Create a free account to play them all.

Atoms & Molecules · Questions from parents

Frequently Asked Questions

What age is this course for?

Atoms & Molecules is a grade 6 science course for kids ages 11–12. That is Year 7 science in the UK and Year 6 in Australia. It also works well for review in the next grade, or as a challenge for a confident younger learner.

What will my child learn?

Sort elements from compounds, sort metals and nonmetals on the periodic table, and follow atoms as they rearrange in a reaction. Along the way they practice: Elements have one kind of atom. Compounds have different atoms joined together; Metals are shiny conductors. Nonmetals are often dull or gases and don't conduct well; In a reaction, atoms rearrange into new substances, and the total mass stays the same.

How long does the course take?

About 25 minutes in total, split into 3 short levels. Most kids finish it over two or three sessions. Progress is saved, so they can stop any time and pick up where they left off.

Is this course free?

Atoms & Molecules is part of SkillBloom Premium, which unlocks every course in every subject. Each subject also has free courses, so your child can try SkillBloom before you decide.

Does my child need to read well to use it?

No. Every lesson has a friendly read-aloud voice, questions are read aloud too, and the pictures help kids follow along. Confident readers can turn the voice off.

Can we use it for homeschool?

Yes. SkillBloom is built for homeschooling families. Kids work through lessons, games and quizzes on their own, and the parent dashboard shows what they finished and which skills need more practice. It works on phones, tablets and laptops.

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