-
Modeling Self Assembly Middle School Version
15 Jan 2020 | | Contributor(s):: Roquel Stanley, Angela Berenstein, NNCI Nano
This is the middle school version of a more complex high school lesson. There are two activities in this lesson, the Fly Prison and the Water Maze. The Fly Prison is a hands-on modeling activity designed to introduce students to the area of nanotechnology and give them a basic...
-
Quantum Dots: Real-world Particles in a Box
15 Jan 2020 | | Contributor(s):: Joyce Allen, NNCI Nano
The purpose of this activity is to show that nanosize particles of a given substance often exhibit different properties and behavior than macro or micro size particles of the same material. The property studied in this activity is the absorption and reflection of light which is based on energy...
-
Doping to Create a Semiconductor: Changing conductive properties through diffusion
14 Jan 2020 | | Contributor(s):: Kaye Sheets, NNCI Nano
In the semiconductor industry scientists take advantage of diffusion to “dope” or introduce atoms into a silicon wafer to change its conductive properties. The lesson simulates the diffusion of a gas phase substance (ammonia) into a solid substrate (gelatin) and compares the...
-
Exploring Nanotechnology through Consumer Products
14 Jan 2020 | | Contributor(s):: Robert Ehrmann, Nancy Healy, NNCI Nano
This lesson should begin with the Introduction to Nanotechnology PowerPoint or use any of the videos on YouTube that introduce nanoscale science. Students then extend their knowledge by exploring consumer products that have been developed with nanotechnology.
-
Exploring the Properties of Magic Sand
13 Jan 2020 | | Contributor(s):: Amy Brunner, Nancy Healy, NNCI Nano
This lesson uses a hydrophobic material called Magic Sand to: 1. Explore the properties of molecular bonding; 2. Introduce students to the engineering of hydrophobic surfaces; and 3. Demonstrate the concepts of hydrophobic and hydrophilic behavior. It is suitable for high school students in...
-
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...
-
How Catalysts Work - A Nanoscale Phenomenon
13 Jan 2020 | | Contributor(s):: Manueal Casillas, NNCI Nano
This activity helps students understand how catalysts work on the nanoscale. Catalyst are more efficient when on the nanoscale because of the large amount of surface area in comparison to volume. This is a great way to introduce or review reactants, catalysts, and adsorption, desorption, and...
-
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.
-
What Does Nanotechnology Have to Do with Magnetism? A Ferrofluids Activity
13 Jan 2020 | | Contributor(s):: Joyce Allen, NNCI Nano
Ferrofluid is a unique material that has both magnetic and liquid properties. It is a colloidal solution of nano-sized particles of magnetite suspended in a liquid. This activity will review what students know about magnetism and compares that knowledge to how ferrofluid behaves.
-
Seeing Nano II: Using Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) to see Nano-size Objects
06 Jan 2020 | | Contributor(s):: Samantha Andrews, NNCI Nano
Students will explore the storage capacities of CDs, DVDs, and Blu-ray discs using an Atomic Force Microscope (AFM). The AFM allows us to image objects that are extremely small in size, often on the nanoscale (10-9m). Students will access an AFM via Remotely Accessible Instruments for...
-
Thin Films
27 Aug 2018 | | Contributor(s):: NISE Net, Deb Newberry (editor), Christopher Lee Kumm (editor), James J Marti (editor), Nano Link
In this module, students will learn about the optical properties of thin films. Students will perform an experiment where they will apply a thin film to a piece of card stock paper. The students can then observe the optical properties of the thin film. This resource contains multiple documents...
-
Unit Cells and Crystal Structures
27 Aug 2018 | | Contributor(s):: Kristi Jean, Deb Newberry (editor), James Marti (editor), Nano Link
In this module students create a saturated solutions using Borax and sodium acetate. Upon drying, each crystal will have a different shape. The shape at the macro level is driven by the arrangement of atoms. This repeating arrangement of atoms – which defines a crystal structure –...
-
Help or Hype: The Ethics of Bio-nanotechnology
11 Jan 2017 | | Contributor(s):: Samantha Andrews, NNCI Nano
This lesson explores the ethical concerns related to bio-nanotechnology. Bio-nanotechnology is the application of nanotechnology to living things. This ranges from the creation of pharmaceuticals to medical devices. While scientists have created many life-saving treatments ethical concerns,...
-
Mixtures and Nanotechnology
11 Jan 2017 | | Contributor(s):: Joyce Palmer Allen, NNCI Nano
The purpose of this unit is to help students make the connection that the classification of mixtures is based on the size of particles. This connects to two of the Big Ideas in Nanoscale Science and Engineering (Stevens, Sutherland, and Krajick 2009). ...
-
Wet Etching in Nanofabrication
11 Jan 2017 | | Contributor(s):: Manuel Casillas, NNCI Nano
This lab will help students understand how chemical reactions are used to create the specific shapes on surfaces of crystalline materials, which make up functional components within electronics. The fabrication of electronic devices is now reaching into the nanoscale with the capability of more...
-
Introduction to Creative Problem Solving in Nanotechnology
10 Jan 2017 | | Contributor(s):: Joseph Nunn, NNCI Nano
This lesson serves as an introduction to the field of nanotechnology by discussing its real-world implications in light of current economic issues and conditions. The lesson is performed using the Creative Problem-Solving format and serves as a method to encourage debate on current topics.
-
Powers of Ten with the Blue Morpho Butterfly
09 Jan 2017 | | Contributor(s):: Nancy Healy, Marilyn Garza, NNCI Nano
This activity is designed to help students understand the concept of scale and magnification when examining a Blue Morpho butterfly wing. The activity requires the use of a scanning electron microscope (SEM) but images are provided if there is no access to an SEM.
-
Size and Scale - Learning About Measurement
09 Jan 2017 | | Contributor(s):: NNCI Nano
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 nanometer is in comparison to common objects. They will...
-
Small Scale Sculpting
09 Jan 2017 | | Contributor(s):: Marilyn Garza, NNCI Nano
This lab is analogous with some nanofabrication processes. This lab will help students understand some of the challenges encountered while making semiconductor chips and waveguides, both of which are found in electronic circuits.
-
Small Scale Stenciling
09 Jan 2017 | | Contributor(s):: Marilyn Garza, NNCI Nano
This lab is analogous with some nanofabrication processes. This lab will help students understand some of the challenges encountered while making semiconductor chips and waveguides, both of which are found in electronic circuits.