So for APS were making ball and stick models of simple molecules, with a bunch of work about them too. For the actual models, creativity counts, so I was looking for any ideas that I could use to jazz it up The basics are simple, I'm using wooden dowel rods and styrofoam balls. I plan on lightly painting on some sort of paint or something, and then I'm just sort of wondering what I should do then. I don't want it to just be all bleh ball-stick-paint F, so any ideas or what else to put on the balls? I thought maybe some small jewels spread out to make it glitter a bit. Any ideas are loved, I really appreciate it.

Also, tell me about some of your science projects you've ever done!

Update: Finally found a simple molecule that I had enough supplies for. I'm doing the ever boring Acetone. So I'm thinking the nuclei will be solid-color pool balls (thanks for the awesome idea!) and the atoms will be the stripes, and instead of numbers, I'm thinking of just putting the element symbol on (or maybe I'll put the atomic number underneath the symbol, too). And of course some glitter!

They need smiley faces. All balls need smiley faces. AND GLITTER.

I've done like... 2. And I copied them off the internet the night before for my 8th grade projects loloolol

I second the glitter idea. Everything's better when it's coated in sparkly shit c:

YES!!! SMILIES!!! Different expressions for different molecules XD Some sad, some happy, some catfish XD

Going off the smily face idea, you could paint/draw horrified faces on the balls and make it look like the sticks are skewers going in to their faces. They could all be different colors and have different variants of a "DDDDDD8" face.

Or glitter. Glitter works if you don't mind sparkling the entire day you have to bring them in.

Man, I haven't done a real science project in forever. XD Though my senior year in high school, my group for environmental science had to give a presentation on the tundra ecosystem, so we dressed up as ice fishermen (in winter coats and those disguise glasses), jumped up on the counter, and sang a song my friend wrote to the tune of "Hang the Bastard" from Cannibal! The Musical about tundras. Our teacher thought it was awesome, but no one in the class even paid attention. Little assholes. >:|

I... I was thinking maybe you could colour coordinate them according to element type? Or maybe you're already doing that, I dunno :U seems logical.

Or maybe paint the connecting dowels according to bond type. Or paint on the element symbols. You might get more marks for that sort of stuff.

I've not done any sort of project in ages. I can only ever remember doing one school projects years ago for history... we got to construct a scale model of a castle. Fuck yeah, Motte-and-bailey up in this bitch. We didn't win, because someone made one composed entirely from sugar cubes.

EDERT: Oh I like 's idea - esp. if you use the atomic number for the numbers on the pool balls!

what about painting the balls to look like pool balls? that would be cool, and each one could be a different number/color idk how well that would work into your project, idk what your really making, but it sounded neat atm.

Get sequins in the colors you need and pin them all over the styrofoam ball like so:

It takes time, but looks so good afterwards!

Dip them in a pool of super glue and then dump buckets of silver and gold glitter on them until they are so shiny they are nauseating.

I love that idea! Sadly though, only two tiny cans of spray paint cost 11 dollars, so I only have 2 colors, but I still might paint them that was anyways. Like the nuclei can be the blue and the number could be the element symbol? Hmm.

Maybe try nail polish to go with the acetone, have it dripping of as though the acetone is melting it? A little sheet explaining what acetone is and does would be nice too. I miss junior (middle school in US I think) science. Senior chem projects are pretty boring.

We have to write about how/where it's used, etc, so I'll be sure to have some information! That's also a very good idea!

that might work out well too : ) good luck deciding!