In this hands-on science activity, Grade 7 students recreated Rutherford’s famous Gold Foil Experiment to explore the structure of the atom. Using simple materials to model particle collisions, students investigated how alpha particles behave when directed towards a target, helping them understand the evidence that led Rutherford to propose the nuclear model of the atom.

Through observation, prediction, and discussion, students discovered that atoms are mostly empty space with a small, dense, positively charged nucleus at their centre. The activity brought an important scientific discovery to life, making a complex concept more engaging, interactive, and memorable.