Curated OER
Crystal Ice Art
This isn't just an art lesson, it's a science lesson too. Kids draw a lovely winter scene and then paint over it with a solution of epsom salts and water. They make predictions, then observe how crystals form as the water evaporates...
American Chemical Society
Curious Crystals
Crystals are more than meets the eye! Can learners tell them apart simply by observation? As they examine five samples with a magnifier, they find that appearance alone is not enough. This serves as an introduction to a mini unit on...
Curated OER
Ghost Crystals - Light & Water
Woo, ghost crystals, just in time for Halloween! Young scientists experiment with light and water as they make and observe ghost crystals. The lesson does not include the process for making the crystals, but provides a web link where a...
American Chemical Society
Solubility Test
Make sure to consult the teacher's handbook, Inquiry in Action - Investigating Matter Through Inquiry, for two demonstrations that can be done to introduce solubility and measuring crystal mass before having the class conduct this...
Curated OER
Growing Crystals from Solutions
Students grow crystals in the lab using solutions. In this crystals lesson plan, students set up a crystal growing apparatus using a sugar solution with a thread attached to a piece of copper wire that is inserted in the solution....
Curated OER
Crystal Growing
Students grow crystals and document their observations by recording timeing and growth. Additional characteristics of crystals are observed under a black light, by growing under different conditions and mineral content is determined.
Curated OER
Snowflake Bentley
Students explore crystals through the story Snowflake Bentley and then create crystal pictures of their own. In this interdisciplinary instructional activity, they create a crystal web chart on chart paper, design artificial snowflakes,...
American Chemical Society
Why Does Water Dissolve Salt?
Individuals explore solubility by modeling how water dissolves salts. They then view a video and compare how well water and alcohol dissolve salts, relating their comparisons to the structure of each molecule.
Curated OER
Properties of Salt
Students discuss certain properties of salt and how it is used every day as well as harmful uses. They experiment with salt to see it conduct electricity, form crystals and water freezing temperature. They complete a worksheet to record...
Curated OER
Crystals
Students investigate crystal formation, their shapes and the best places to cleave crystals for smooth edges. In this crystal lesson plan, students experiment to form crystals with Salol as well as with copper wire and Silver Nitrate....
Curated OER
Crystal Painting
Students investigate crystalline solids. In this crystals lesson plan, students observe samples of natural crystals and compare and contrast each. They draw pictures with crayons and then paint over their picture using crystalline solids...
Curated OER
Scientific Method and Crystal Growth
Learners conduct a hands-on experiment growing crystals to demonstrate the nature of science as inquiry. They discuss and test variables that affect crystal growth. They research mineral crystallization and mineral formation on the...
Smithsonian Institution
Watching Crystals Grow
Amazing science can sometimes happen right before your eyes! The class gets cozy as they watch crystals grow. They use Epsom salts, rocks, and food coloring to create crystals. They'll observe the entire process, documenting every step...
American Chemical Society
Crushing Test
Solidify understanding of the properties of crystals by crushing them to compare hardness. After some class discussion, a procedure is planned, and then small groups go about making observations as they crush five different crystal...
Curated OER
Chemistry is Crystal Clear
Students observe crystals and their shapes and formation. In this crystal formation lesson plan, the teacher prepares crystal gardens for the students to observe, then the class finds examples of crystals in nature and observe a teacher...
Curated OER
Crystals
Young scholars investigate patterns in solids, the structures of crystals and rocks made up of minerals. In this crystals lesson plan, students review solids, make patterns with Styrofoam balls, make crystals in the lab and observe their...
Curated OER
Watching Crystals Grow
Students observe crystal growth of Epsom salts and the variables that hinder or help their nucleation and growth. They illustrate a series of drawings/pictures as the crystals grow. They look for the different shapes they form as well...
Curated OER
Crystals: What Are They and What Holds Them Together
Students are introduced to the characteristics of crystals and what keeps them together. Using the Periodic Table, they examine the various elements and develop a model of an atom. In groups, they place sugar and salt in petri dishes...
Curated OER
Growing A Coral Skeleton
Students research the growth of coral. In this coral polyps lesson, students simulate the growth of coral by using available materials to grow crystals. Students record observations in a scientific journal.
Curated OER
Hydrated Salt
Students plan, design, and carry out an experiment to determine an empirical formula for a hydrated salt X that tell students when all the water has been removed from hydrate crystals.
Curated OER
Some Halogen Chemistry
In this halogen chemistry worksheet, students complete a practical to gain experience making observations of inorganic halogens and their salts. Students make observations of changes that take place in each chemical reaction and they...
American Chemical Society
Using Dissolving to Identify an Unknown
There is a solvent called aqua regis that can dissolve gold! After observing a solubility demonstration, groups receive four known crystals and one unknown. Based on the demo, they design an experiment to determine the identity of the...
Curated OER
Coal Flowers
Students create coal flowers. In this mining lesson, students discuss the importance of coal during the 1800s and use ingredients to make coal flowers. Students determine the effect temperature has on crystal formation.
Curated OER
Eggs'ceptional Experiments
Students see evidence of chemical reaction and follow the scientific method to hypothesize, observe, and reach conclusions. They conduct a series of egg based experiments such as forming crystals and complete journal activities as a...