Sugar Crystal Challenge

Lesson Focus

Lesson focuses on surface area and how the shape of sugar crystals may differ as they are grown from sugars of different grades of coarseness. Students explore surface area, nanostructures, and work in teams and participate in hands-on activities.

Download:

Full Lesson Plan
Student Worksheets

Translated Lessons:

Age Levels:

8 – 14

Objectives

Learn about nanostructures.
Learn about crystals.
Learn about surface area.
Learn about teamwork and working in groups.

Anticipated Learner Outcomes

As a result of this activity, students should develop an understanding of:

nanostructures
surface area
problem solving
teamwork

Lesson Activities

Students learn about how surface area can change at the nanoscale. Students work in teams to explore different forms of sugar at different levels of coarseness. They then predict how sugar crystals grown from different sugar solutions might be different at the molecular level depending upon the coarseness of the original sugar. Student make predictions, conduct research, and present their proposal to the class.