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Snowflakes: Nano at its Coolest

[1] : Stage presentation [2]

Snowflakes: Nano at its Coolest

Download all files (zip) [3]  

Overview
Snowflakes: Nano at its Coolest
Rae Ostman [4]
NISE Network product
image/jpeg iconSNOWFLAKE_viz_photo.jpg [5]
image/jpeg iconSNOWFLAKE_libbrecht_d0123a086B.jpg [6]
image/jpeg iconSNOWFLAKE_libbrecht_ice.jpg [7]

Description: 

"Snowflakes" is a public presentation that introduces nanoscale science through the subject of snowflakes. Visitors learn that the complex structure of snowflakes results from the nanoscale arrangement of water molecules in an ice crystal, and that snowflakes are examples of self-assembled systems studied by nanoscientists. During the program, visitors watch videos of snowflakes growing and observe real ice crystals growing in a chilled chamber.
Objectives

Big Idea: 

Snowflakes have a complex structure, determined by the nanoscale arrangement of water molecules in an ice crystal and by the specific environmental conditions under which the snowflake forms.

Learning goals: 

  • It snows when it’s cold and cloudy: the temperature is below freezing and the air is supersaturated with water vapor.
  • Snowflakes almost always have six sides, because ice crystals most commonly have a hexagonal structure. The macroscale structure that we can see (the snowflake) reflects the nanoscale arrangement of water molecules.
  • It’s true that no two snowflakes are exactly alike, but snowflakes can be classified into a number of types.
  • Nano is very, very small.
  • Nanoscientists learn about and make things that are too small to see.
  • Snowflakes are an example of self-assembly in nature. Self-assembly is a process by which molecules and cells form themselves into specific, ordered structures under the right conditions.
  • Researchers in the field of nanotechnology are studying self-assembly in order to create new materials and technologies.
  • Nanoscale effects occur in many places. Some are natural, everyday occurrences; others are the result of cutting-edge research.
  • Nanotechnology means working at small size scales, manipulating materials to exhibit new properties.

NISE Net Content Map: 

  • Nanometer-sized things are very small, and often behave differently than larger things do.
  • Scientists and engineers have formed the interdisciplinary field of nanotechnology by investigating properties and manipulating matter at the nanoscale.
  • Nanoscience, nanotechnology, and nanoengineering lead to new knowledge and innovations that weren't possible before.

Universal design: 

  • Repeat and reinforce main ideas and concepts.
  • Provide multiple entry points and multiple ways of engagement
  • Provide physical and sensory access to all aspects of the program. Visitors can touch, see and hear different elements of the program.
Credits

Developed for the NISE Network with funding from the National Science Foundation under Award Numbers 0532536 and 0940143. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this product are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Foundation.

Checklist

Scientist reviewed? check_reviewed
Peer reviewed? check_reviewed
Visitor evaluation? check_reviewed

Nano Topics

[8], [9], [10]

Audience

[11]

Tags

[12], [13], [14]

Permissions

Creative Commons license image [15]
Creative Commons
Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike

Catalog section: 

Programs

What kind of program?: 

Stage presentation

Nano topics: 

Art and nature
Fundamentals
Materials, tools, and applications

Audience: 

7 and up

Content keywords: 

demonstration
snowflake
self-assembly

Highlight this product during NanoDays?: 

0

K-12: 

0
Standards

Science and Technology: 

K-4: Abilities to distinguish between natural objects and objects made by humans
K-4: Understanding about science and technology
5-8: Understanding about science and technology
9-12: Understanding about science and technology

Earth and space science: 

K-4: Properties of earth materials
5-8: Structure of the earth system

Physical science: 

K-4: Properties of objects and materials
5-8: Properties and changes of properties in matter
9-12: Structure and properties of matter
9-12: Structure of atoms

Science as inquiry: 

K-4: Abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry
K-4: Understanding about scientific inquiry
5-8: Abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry
5-8: Understanding about scientific inquiry
Resources
Download zip file [3]

Download all files (ZIP) [3]

Files: 

application/msword iconSnowflake lesson plan [16]
application/vnd.ms-powerpoint iconSnowflake slides [17]
image/jpeg iconSnowflake Basic Shapes Template 1 of 2 [18]
image/jpeg iconSnowflake Basic Shapes Template 2 of 2 [19]
image/jpeg iconSnowflake Stellarplate Tactile Template 1 of 3 [20]
image/jpeg iconSnowflake Stellarplate Tactile Template 2 of 3 [21]
image/jpeg iconSnowflake Stellarplate Tactile Template 3 of 3 [22]
application/pdf iconSnowflake lesson plan [23]

Links: 

Snowflake Training Video [24]
See FAQ #10 to learn more about downloading NISE Net video [25]

Video: 

Evaluations
Comments

Public SEM images of snow [26]

Submitted by Anders Liljeholm [27] on Thu, 11/12/2009 - 14:00.

Dartmouth has some awesome SEM images of snow crystals that might enhance this program.

http://remf.dartmouth.edu/freshsnow/freshsnow.html [28]

They have a history of releasing SEM images into the public domain, so they'll probably let you use these, too.

http://remf.dartmouth.edu/imagesindex.html [29]

default member photo

I used a shortened version [32]

Submitted by lregalla [33] on Mon, 12/15/2008 - 12:22.

I used a shortened version of this program with a group of Girl Scouts. They loved it! I used thread instead of fishing line and it worked just fine.

Source URL: http://www.nisenet.org/catalog/programs/snowflakes_nano_at_its_coolest

Links:
[1] http://www.nisenet.org/catalog/programs
[2] http://www.nisenet.org/catalog/programs/stage_presentation
[3] http://www.nisenet.org/node/2203/filefield_compress/all
[4] http://www.nisenet.org/users/rae_ostman
[5] http://www.nisenet.org/sites/default/files/catalog/programs/SNOWFLAKE_viz_photo.jpg
[6] http://www.nisenet.org/sites/default/files/SNOWFLAKE_libbrecht_d0123a086B.jpg
[7] http://www.nisenet.org/sites/default/files/SNOWFLAKE_libbrecht_ice.jpg
[8] http://www.nisenet.org/category/nano-topics/art-nature
[9] http://www.nisenet.org/category/nano-interests/fundamentals
[10] http://www.nisenet.org/category/nano-interests/materials-tools-applications
[11] http://www.nisenet.org/category/audience/7
[12] http://www.nisenet.org/catalog/topics/demonstration
[13] http://www.nisenet.org/catalog/topics/snowflake
[14] http://www.nisenet.org/category/catalog-exhibits/self-assembly
[15] http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/us/
[16] http://www.nisenet.org/sites/default/files/catalog/uploads/2203/snowflake_final_07aug08.doc
[17] http://www.nisenet.org/sites/default/files/catalog/uploads/2203/snowflakes_presentation_may10.ppt
[18] http://www.nisenet.org/sites/default/files/catalog/uploads/2203/Snowflakes_BasicShapesTemplate_1of2_July10.jpg
[19] http://www.nisenet.org/sites/default/files/catalog/uploads/2203/Snowflakes_BasicShapesTemplate_2of2_July10.jpg
[20] http://www.nisenet.org/sites/default/files/catalog/uploads/2203/Snowflakes_StellarplateTactileTemplate_1of3_July10.jpg
[21] http://www.nisenet.org/sites/default/files/catalog/uploads/2203/Snowflakes_StellarplateTactileTemplate_2of3_July10.jpg
[22] http://www.nisenet.org/sites/default/files/catalog/uploads/2203/Snowflakes_StellarplateTactileTemplate_3of3_July10.jpg
[23] http://www.nisenet.org/sites/default/files/catalog/uploads/2203/snowflake_final_07aug08.pdf
[24] http://vimeo.com/channels/nisenet/11049358
[25] http://www.nisenet.org/support
[26] http://www.nisenet.org/print/2203#comment-204
[27] http://www.nisenet.org/users/anders-liljeholm
[28] http://remf.dartmouth.edu/freshsnow/freshsnow.html
[29] http://remf.dartmouth.edu/imagesindex.html
[30] http://www.nisenet.org/user/login?destination=node%2F2203%23comment-form
[31] http://www.nisenet.org/user/register?destination=node%2F2203%23comment-form
[32] http://www.nisenet.org/print/2203#comment-39
[33] http://www.nisenet.org/users/lregalla