Initially, the Standard Model is presented, in a simplified way, as a sophisticated theory that identifies the elementary particles and describes how they interact. Then, within the scope of this theory, some aspects the vacuum is not empty; naked and dressed particles; dark matter and dark wind; matter and antimatter; the Higgs field and the Higgs boson; oscillating neutrinos -are approached as motivating topics for the teaching and learning of physics. Finally, the eventual superseding of this theory by a more complete one is discussed.
Standard Model; elementary particles; physics teaching
