This labs was from Nanolinks:
We had worked with crystals before when we looked at; Rocks/ Geology Unit Grade 6 , Ice Crystals in Weather Unit, Grade 7, Chemistry Units Grade 8. We reviewed first by seeing Brainpop on crystals:
https://www.brainpop.com/science/earthsystem/crystals/
We had made previously crystals with borax and pipe cleaners, rock candy, salt crystals and we discussed ice crystals: http://www.ducksters.com/science/crystals.php
I would also suggest making models of crystals with old tennis balls. I learned this at a Chemistry PD with Dr. Martin:
http://www.light-science.com/glasschange.html (about Dr. Martin)
http://adhunter.people.ysu.edu/CrystEd/CrystalsandmodelsK-4.htm (same as these but with tennis balls)
http://www.hometrainingtools.com/a/crystal-science-projects (lab information)
http://www.yale.edu/ynhti/pubs/A5/vanwagner.html (more crystals)
http://www.iucr.org/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/3123/Class.pdf (from paper)
This lab we first looked at the power point: http://www.nano-link.org/component/docman/cat_view/2-nanotechnology-curriculum/14-nano-link-modules/18-unit-cells-crystals
We discussed what a unit cell was and how all unit cells are not alike. This video made the power point clearer:
This unit contained chemistry concepts that were difficult for my middle school students but it was good to expose them to these concepts. They did enjoy watching the crystals from using as super saturated solution. We did not complete Part 2 of the Activity due to time, but we previously made crystals from borax, salt and sugar. The students did understand the basic crystal structure, what a unit cells is, and what a super saturated solution was.
We then discussed applications of crystals used in science and engineering such as integrated circuits.
These videos helped the students see some future applications of nanotechnology including using crystals. (The other pictures I took in my class for this lab did not come out due to low battery, sorry you can not see the crystals…)
