Description

Teaching Materials (61-80 of 272)

1. Understanding Movement of Molecules across the Cell Membrane

   Teaching Materials | 17 Apr 2020 | Contributor(s):: Brandi Childress, NNCI Nano

   This lesson uses a macro-model to demonstrate the diffusion of molecules across the cell membrane.  A deshelled egg serves as the cell model to observe movement in and out of the “cell”.  Students will learn that the cell membrane is composed of a complex nano-structured...

2. Linear Diffusion and Cell Signaling

   Teaching Materials | 17 Apr 2020 | Contributor(s):: NNCI Nano

   In this activity, students explore the concept of diffusion as a component of cell communication.  Specifically, students will explore how the rate of diffusion varies with distance and concentration gradient. They will use a pipet with water and dye to observe a macro-model of diffusion....

3. Using Biosynthesized Silver Nanoparticles to kill Antibiotic Resistant E. Coli.

   Teaching Materials | 17 Apr 2020 | Contributor(s):: Michael Falck, James Marti, NNCI Nano

   In this lab students will become familiar with biosynthesized silver nanoparticles, or bSNP’s. As part of the lesson, students will learn the potential of using biosynthesized silver nanoparticles for use as antimicrobials against antibiotic-resistant bacteria ...

4. Cross-Link Polymer

   Teaching Materials | 16 Apr 2020 | Contributor(s):: Nano-Link Center for Nanotechnology Education, Deb Newberry, Billie Copley, Jim Marti (editor), Laura Arndt (editor)

   This module allows students to investigate forces and interactions at the molecular scale by mixing different liquids with a cross-linked polymer. The polymer (sodium polyacrylate) is similar to the structure found in cellulose and collagen. The interactions are dependent upon the charge...

5. Nanoparticles and Sunscreen

   Teaching Materials | 16 Apr 2020 | Contributor(s):: Nano-Link Center for Nanotechnology Education, Thomas Deits, Jim Marti (editor), Christopher Kumm

   In this module, students are introduced to the function of sunscreen and learn how nanoparticles can be used to protect people from ultraviolet radiation.  They use photochromic paper as a UV sensor, place samples of different types of sunscreen over this UV sensor, expose their samples to...

6. Ring Polymers

   Teaching Materials | 16 Apr 2020 | Contributor(s):: Nano-Link Center for Nanotechnology Education, Deb Newberry, NISE Net

   This module is a variation on the “Cross-Linked Polymers” activity, and presents much of the same background on polymer structure and properties.  This version uses a form of sodium polyacrylate, the water-absorbing polymer often used in diapers, that has a different atomic...

7. Scientific Method

   Teaching Materials | 16 Apr 2020 | Contributor(s):: Nano-Link Center for Nanotechnology Education, Thomas Deits, Deb Newberry (editor)

   In this module, students will use cellophane “fortune telling” fish to walk through the scientific method. The students learn and practice the scientific method by proposing, testing and observing what happens with their "fish". Students will test various...

8. Superhydrophobicity: A Balance Between Forces

   Teaching Materials | 16 Apr 2020 | Contributor(s):: Nano-Link Center for Nanotechnology Education, Thomas Deits, Kristi Jean, Deb Newberry

   This module demonstrates and gives students an understanding of the forces behind hydrophobic and hydrophilic interactions. The balance between cohesive and adhesive forces results in an almost spherical drop of water standing on a surface, such as a lotus leaf. This effect is called...

9. Surface Area to Volume Ratio

   Teaching Materials | 16 Apr 2020 | Contributor(s):: Nano-Link Center for Nanotechnology Education, Deb Newberry, Billie Copley

   This simple activity conveys one of the most profound aspects of Nanoscience – that for a given volume of material the total surface area increases non-linearly as the volume is divided into smaller and smaller pieces. This concept is being applied to creating better batteries and...

10. Multifaceted Microfluidics: Three simple methods to create a microfluidic device

    Teaching Materials | 07 Apr 2020 | Contributor(s):: Dixie Kullman, NNCI Nano

    This module is open-ended to allow for use in a number of classroom settings. The importance here is to permit the teacher to choose the technique provided and tailor the technique to the scientific principle. The students will create their own microfluidic devices and utilize their devices in...

11. Make a Microfluidic Device to Investigate Properties of Solutions

    Teaching Materials | 07 Apr 2020 | Contributor(s):: Greg Hair, NNCI Nano

    This lesson focuses on having students design and test a microfluidic device to investigate the properties of solutions. The lesson activities combine concepts learned in the previous semester (energy, frequency, wavelength, and bonding) together with the aforementioned concepts of solutions to...

12. Mystery Molecules: Identifying Materials with Nanoscale Characterization Tools

    Teaching Materials | 18 Mar 2020 | Contributor(s):: Maude Cuchiara, NNCI Nano

     In this lesson plan, students will be given several similar looking materials and asked to identify them by observing them at the macro and micro-scale. They will then be exposed to different analytical tools and describe how they can be used to explore materials at the nanoscale. ...

13. Achoo! Pollen Does More than Make Us Sneeze

    Teaching Materials | 18 Mar 2020 | Contributor(s):: Holly Leddy, NNCI Nano

    Harness the power of a scanning electron microscope to let students see that pollen is more than just the yellow dust that makes us sneeze sometimes! Students will learn to use scale bars to interpret size on microscope images, thus meeting math as well as science standards. Using that...

14. Understanding Waveguides: Light at the Nanoscale

    Teaching Materials | 13 Feb 2020 | Contributor(s):: Marilyn Garza, NNCI Nano

    There are three lessons for this activity that help students understand how light can travel through a waveguide for communication purposes. Students will first explore the angle of refraction. Next they will create a gelatin waveguide to explore issues associated with light and waveguides....

15. Water Filtration and Purity of Water - Getting Down to the Nanoscale

    Teaching Materials | 13 Feb 2020 | Contributor(s):: David Mann, NNCI Nano

    This is a three part lesson which begins with familiarizing students with SI prefixes and the nanoscale.  In Lesson 2 students test a local water supply. It is designed to be used as an extension to classroom activities related to treating foul water for consumption. This activity should...

16. NNCI Reference Sheets

    Teaching Materials | 11 Feb 2020 | Contributor(s):: Joyce Allen, Nancy Healy, NNCI Nano

    This is a series of 5 reference sheets for high school students that have a summarized version of important concepts for courses in: Physics, Physical Science, Chemistry, Biology, and Genetics.  These are two sided, with one side introducing nanotechnology and the other containing facts,...

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

    Teaching Materials | 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...

18. Understanding Wave Motion and Power Loss

    Teaching Materials | 10 Feb 2020 | Contributor(s):: Richard Moore, Angela Berenstein, NNCI Nano

    This lab is designed to help students understand how light waves interact with matter. This activity is analogous to light traveling through optical media having different indices of refraction (densities). This is a two part lesson. In part 1 students use slinky and snaky toys to explore wave...

19. NNCI Outreach Demonstration Guide

    Teaching Materials | 10 Feb 2020 | Contributor(s):: Nancy Healy, NNCI Nano

    This compendium of demonstrations includes 17 activities that can be used to demonstrate topics to students and the general public.  They are useful for science festivals, family science nights, and science cafes.  ...

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

    Teaching Materials | 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...