National Nano Infrastructure Network

Students will examine the order of size of objects from the nanoscale to macroscale to visualize exponents and decimals, make size comparisons of objects, and develop an understanding of how small a nanometer is in comparison to common objects. This...

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 understanding of how researchers...

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 understanding of how researchers...

This activity developed by NNIN explores how nanotechnology can be used to change the properties of a copper surface so that it either attracts or repels water. It is appropriate for middle school and high school students. Nonpolar molecules that...

After an introductory PowerPoint on nanotechnology students are given a chance in groups to explore consumer products through an information sheet provided over available consumer products. After learning about products students can create a presentation for a particular product; test...

A focus of the National Science Standards is that students are provided opportunities to read and analyze science outside of their textbooks. This lesson will allow reading across the curriculum by providing students the opportunity to read about nanotechnology. In...

This lab is designed to help students understand how nanoparticles may be more effective catalysts by investigating how the surface area-to-volume ratio of a substance is affected as its shape changes. This lab is meant to complement a chemistry unit...

This is a series of four lessons which build upon each other to explore the use of nanotechnology in cosmetics as well as the social and ethical issues associated with nano-based cosmetics. The purpose of these lessons is to familiarize...

Ferrofluid is a unique material that has both magnetic and liquid properties. It is a colloidal solution of nano-sized particle of magnetite suspended in a liquid. (Purchased). This activity will review what students know about magnetism and compares that knowledge...

The purpose of this lesson is to familiarize students with size, scale, and measurement by exploring size and scale through a variety of activities. In part 2, students explore size effects in chemical reactions.

This lab explores the properties of water flow. This inquiry-based lab consists of 2 sections: the Guided Lab Activity and the Going Further (research) portion. The guided lab activity, performed on the first day, is designed to help students observe...

The objective of this lab is to campare the diffraction behavior of light waves between a CD and DVD. CDs and DVDs contain regularly spaced micrometer sized features which can act like a diffraction grating. Using commercial electronic storage devices...

This 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...

This a cross-disciplinary chemistry and social and ethical issues lesson that is tied to a new and promising inexpensive form of diagnostics called paper diagnostics. The issue discussed focuses on HIV AIDS.

The purpose of this investigation is twofold: 1) To use the skills of scientific inquiry to uncover the most likely perpetrator of a crime, and 2) To employ a paper diagnostics tool as a forensics device for chemically determining "whodunit".

This lesson will review the metric system and relate the size and scale of objects to various metric units, including the very small nano-scale.

This lesson introduces students to social and ethical issues related to nanotechnology. The lesson demonstrates possible social issues through case studeies using popular films, books, and news stories. The lesson is intented to stimulate discussion about social and ethical issues...

This activity—in which students test a local water supply—is designed to be used as an extension to classroom activities related to treating foul water for consumption. This activity should be done after students have been introduced to the concept of...

Purpose of the lesson is to: • Explore the properties of molecular bonding • Introduce students to the engineering of hydrophobic surface. • Demonstrate the concepts of hydrophobic and hydrophilic behavior.

This demonstration helps students understand how catalysts work on the nanoscale. This is a great way to introduce or review reactants, catalysts, and adsorption, desorption, and diffusion. Use this demonstration after the Surface Area-to-Volume Ratio of Nanoparticles lab.

Students simulate the function of a scanning probe microscope.This activity works best in groups of 3 students. Scanning Probe Microscopes (SPMs) of various types trace surface features by movement of a very fine pointed tip mounted on a flexible arm...

At the end of this lesson, students will understand that solar energy radiates from the sun to the Earth and gets trapped within the oven. Students will be able to explain how the thermal energy flows from the hot air...

Students will calculate surface area, draw graphs, and approximate the populations of bacteria and nanobes. Before starting this lab, the student should understand how to 1) calculate the surface area of a circle, 2) draw and label a graph, 3)...

This lesson is a three part uinit which helps students explore angle of incidence, anle of refraction, and how light is transmitted through a waveguide for communication. The students can either do a guided inquiry or an independent inquiry. Part...

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...