Resources (1-17 of 17)

1. A Look into the Nanoworld: An introduction to Nanoscale Science and Engineering

   23 Aug 2021 | | Contributor(s):: NNCI Nano, Jackie Smith

   This is a four-part lesson that has students explore the nanoscale. The lesson includes: size and scale, metric system and conversions, measurement, nanotechnology applications, and careers in nano-science. The activities can be done in groups of 2-4 and requires viewing of videos.

2. How Big is a Nanometer?

   13 Jan 2020 | | Contributor(s):: Chantelle Smith, Paul Longwell, Stephen Stilianous, NNCI Nano

   The purpose of this activity is to help students conceptualize the magnitude of a nanometer compared to other metric units of length. At the end of this activity, students will be able to state the size of a nanometer, convert between nanometers and other metric units of length, and give...

3. Is Measuring an Art or a Science?

   09 Jan 2017 | | Contributor(s):: Monica Hochstein, NNCI Nano

   Nanotechnology occurs on the scale of 1-100 nanometers (in one direction). There have been numerous predictions about the growth in nanotechnology production and its impact on  manufacturing in the near future. Manufacturing and commercial exchange of nano products will create a need for...

4. Learning About Surface Area and Volume

   11 Jan 2017 | | Contributor(s):: Joyce Palmer Allen, NNCI Nano

   The purpose of this lesson is to help students extend their knowledge of area, perimeter, and volume to include surface area.  The understanding of these concepts begin in the elementary grades and helps students understand events such as why a hot potato cools down quicker when it is...

5. Learning Set on Size, Scale, Function and Measurement Systems

   13 Jan 2020 | | Contributor(s):: Brett Criswell, David Oertner, NNCI Nano

   This activity is designed to be used at the 9th grade level in a general science or physical science class setting in conjunction with a unit on measurement. However, it is flexible in design and could easily be adapted to other grade levels in other classes. 

6. Noodling Around: Powers of Ten

   21 Jan 2020 | | Contributor(s):: Marilyn Garza, NNCI Nano

   This activity develops a K–12 student’s skills in measurement by using a pool noodle to measure objects. The activity encourages students to consider features that are useful when developing or using a measurement tool. This lesson introduces scale by demonstrating scales as factors...

7. Right Tool for the Job

   11 Jan 2017 | | Contributor(s):: Joyce Palmer Allen, NNCI Nano

   The purpose of this lesson is to encourage students to think about how using tools helps them gather information about the world around them.  This is especially important at the nanoscale, where the objects are too small to be seen and the information we gather depends on the tools that...

8. Scale Models: A Size and Scale Activity

   21 Jan 2020 | | Contributor(s):: Marilyn Garza, NNCI Nano

   This lesson introduces scale by demonstrating scales as factors of ten. This facilitates the introduction and reinforcement of the metric scale and paves the way to the discussion of lengths that are smaller than what can be seen with the naked eye. ...

9. Shrink Me: A Size and Scale Lesson

   21 Jan 2020 | | Contributor(s):: Marilyn Garza, NNCI Nano

   This activity focuses on measuring length, for this is the most common feature when presenting nanoscale structures or nanoscale science. Understanding size and scale is fundamental to learning about nanotechnology as size defines the nanoscale (1-100nm in one dimension). Size is often divided...

10. SI System and Nanoscale Science

    21 Jan 2020 | | Contributor(s):: Linda Duke, NNCI Nano

    This two-part unit provides activities for students to learn about the metric system of measurement. A connection to the nanoscale is made by having students read the How Stuff Works article –“How Nanotechnology Works” and answer questions about the article. Further...

11. Size and Scale: Learning about Measurement

    28 Jan 2020 | | Contributor(s):: Nancy Healy, NNCI Nano

    Using images of objects and the SI unit of measurement, students will visualize the order of numerical properties of objects from the nanoscale to visible scale using exponents and decimals. Students will make size comparisons of objects. Students will develop an understanding of how small a...

12. The Metric System from Big to Small

    29 Jan 2020 | | Contributor(s):: Joe Donahue, NNCI Nano

    This interactive lesson will review the metric system and relate the size and scale of objects to various metric units, including the very small nano-scale. The activity is best done in groups of 3-4 students and requires the groups to make measurements and convert them to the metric system.

13. The Micro and Macro Worlds Around Us

    23 Jan 2020 | | Contributor(s):: Marilyn Garza, NNCI Nano

    This activity focuses on scale and the importance of using scale bars, for this is the most common feature when presenting nanoscale structures or nanoscale science. Understanding size and scale is fundamental to learning about nanotechnology as size defines the nanoscale . ...

14. Understanding Nanotechnology Size and Scale

    06 May 2020 | | Contributor(s):: Jody Jackson, Trevor Thornton, NNCI Nano

    This first lesson will be interactive with a worksheet that students complete as they learn. They will be introduced to a ruler that compares centimeters, millimeters, nanometers, and inches. Using this ruler, the students will measure various items in their classroom and hear about the size of...

15. What's in your Neighborhood: a size and scale activity

    07 Feb 2020 | | Contributor(s):: Marilyn Garza, NNCI Nano

    This activity gives students a sense of size and scale using their classroom and their neighborhood as a frame of reference. The activity focuses on measuring length, for this is the most common feature when presenting nanoscale structures or nanoscale science. Understanding size and scale is...

16. What's the Smallest Thing You Know?

    11 Jan 2017 | | Contributor(s):: Joyce Palmer Allen, NNCI Nano

    The book What’s Smaller Than A Pygmy Shrew? by Robert E. Wells helps students see that a pygmy shrew is among the tiniest of  mammals and that a ladybug is even smaller.  But in the book, they will also find even smaller things that they ordinarily do not see.  This is the...

17. What's the Smallest Thing You Know? A Size and Scale Activity

    10 Feb 2020 | | Contributor(s):: Joyce Allen, NNCI Nano

    This lesson is designed to have elementary level students develop an understanding of size and scale.  It uses the book What’s Smaller Than A Pygmy Shrew? by Robert E. Wells to help students see that a pygmy shrew is among the tiniest of  mammals and that a ladybug is even...