Educator and children exploring hydrophobic properties of lotus leaf and nano nano pants in NanoDays activity

NanoDays Kit

Public programs, hands-on activities, and professional development resources about nanoscale science, engineering, and technology and their impact on society.

Featured Activities

Browse all activities in this kit

A facilitator adds scented oils into deflated balloons

Exploring Size - Smelly Balloons

In this activity learners use their sense of smell to explore the world on the nanoscale and learn that we can smell some things that are too small to see.

A person using thin slice of graphite to cut ice.

Exploring Properties - Heat Transfer

In this activity, learners investigate how quickly heat is transferred through two different materials.

Exploring Fabrication - Electroplating

In this activity, learners coat a nickel coin with nanometer-thin layers of copper using the electroplating process.

Learner holds up an atomic structure model of graphene

Carbon

Elemental carbon has many different structural forms including graphite, diamond, carbon nanotubes and buckyballs. The arrangement of atoms at the nanoscale dramatically impacts a material’s macroscale properties and behavior. Hands-on activities explore: observable phenomena such as conductivity of graphite; molecular model-building of different forms; and how new technology may affect society.

Event Planning and Promotion Guide

NanoDays Planning Guide

Professional development guide for educators on planning and promoting a NanoDays event.

Cover of the Zoom in Nano guide featuring girl with ribbon in her hair looking at a paper craft

Explore Science - Zoom into Nano Planning & Promotional Materials

Professional development guide for educators on planning and promoting your Explore Science - Zoom into Nano event.

Book of All NanoDays Activities

NanoDays Collection Book

Compendium of all public engagement materials from NanoDays 2008-2015 designed to engage the public in nanoscale science, engineering, and technology and their impact on society impact on society.

Download Digital Kits

NanoDays Collection Book

Compendium of all public engagement materials from NanoDays 2008-2015 designed to engage the public in nanoscale science, engineering, and technology and their impact on society impact on society.

Girl looking at stained glass craft using NanoDays Exploring Materials - Stained-Glass Windows

NanoDays 2015 Digital Kit

Digital download of all public engagement and professional development files in the NanoDays 2015 kit designed to engage the public in nanoscale science, engineering, and technology and their impact on society.impact on society.

Parents and two children wearing safety goggles looking at a piece of metal after it has been electroplated

NanoDays 2014 Digital Kit

Digital download of all public engagement and professional development files in the NanoDays 2014 kit designed to engage the public in nanoscale science, engineering, and technology and their impact on society.impact on society.

Photo of learners holding and examining gummy capsule creation

NanoDays 2013 Digital Kit

Digital download of all public engagement and professional development files in the NanoDays 2013 kit designed to engaging the public in nanoscale science, engineering, and technology and their impact on society.impact on society.

Young girl stacks large blocks with images on them

NanoDays 2012 Digital Kit

Digital download of all public engagement and professional development files in the NanoDays 2012 kit designed to engage the public in nanoscale science, engineering, and technology and their impact on society.impact on society.

Person looking at a thick test tube filled with static charged styrofoam beads

NanoDays 2011 Digital Kit

Digital download of all public engagement and professional development files in the NanoDays 2011 kit designed to engage the public in nanoscale science, engineering, and technology and their impact on society.impact on society.

Child smelling balloon using Exploring Size - Scented Balloons NanoDays

NanoDays 2010 Digital Kit

Digital download of all public engagement and professional development files in the NanoDays 2010 kit designed to engage the public in nanoscale science, engineering, and technology and their impact on society.impact on society.

Person inside of a giant carbon nanotube model made of balloons

NanoDays 2009 Digital Kit

Digital download of all public engagement and professional development files in the NanoDays 2013 kit designed to engage the public in nanoscale science, engineering, and technology and their impact on society.impact on society.

Explore Science - Zoom into Nano Digital Kit

Digital download of all public engagement and professional development files in the Museum & Community Partnership Explore Science: Zoom into Nano kit designed to engage underserved audiences in nanoscale science, engineering, and technology through local community collaborations.

View Kit Contents List

All NanoDays kit contents (2009-2015)

NanoDays - More Details

Public programs, hands-on activities, and professional development resources about nanoscale science, engineering, and technology and their impact on society. Links to all kits, resources, and all digital kits.

NanoDays 2015 Digital Kit

Public programs, hands-on activities, and professional development resources about nanoscale science, engineering, and technology and their impact on society.

NanoDays 2014 Digital Kit

Public programs, hands-on activities, and professional development resources about nanoscale science, engineering, and technology and their impact on society.

NanoDays 2013 Digital Kit

Public programs, hands-on activities, and professional development resources about nanoscale science, engineering, and technology and their impact on society.

NanoDays 2012 Digital Kit

Public programs, hands-on activities, and professional development resources about nanoscale science, engineering, and technology and their impact on society.

NanoDays 2011 Digital Kit

Public programs, hands-on activities, and professional development resources about nanoscale science, engineering, and technology and their impact on society.

NanoDays 2010 Digital Kit

Public programs, hands-on activities, and professional development resources about nanoscale science, engineering, and technology and their impact on society.

NanoDays 2009 Digital Kit

Public programs, hands-on activities, and professional development resources about nanoscale science, engineering, and technology and their impact on society.

Explore Science: Zoom into Nano Kit - Contents List

Museum & Community Partnerships resources designed to engage underserved audiences in nanoscale science, engineering, and technology through local community collaborations.

Learn More About the Project

Nanoscale Informal Science Education Network

The Nanoscale Informal Science Education Network (NISE Net) was a project funded by the National Science Foundation to create a national community of researchers and informal science educators dedicated to fostering public awareness, engagement, and understanding of nanoscale science, engineering, and technology.

Framework and Content Map

Screen shot of the Nano learning framework screencap featuring three activities with annotation

Nanoscale Informal Learning Experiences: NISE Network Learning Framework

This nanoscale science learning framework tool indicates how our educational experiences support the six interrelated strands of learning documented by the National Research Council.

Nanoscale Science Informal Learning Experiences: NISE Network Content Map

The NISE Network nanoscale science content map features key ideas for our educational products, including programs, exhibits, and media experiences.

Engaging the Public in Nano Key Concepts

Professional development guide for educators on Nanoscale Informal Science Education Network.

Girl in a pink shirt with staring at a peacock feather

What is NanoDays?

NanoDays features public programs, hands-on activities, and professional development resources about nanoscale science, engineering, and technology and their impact on society.

NanoDays is an annual, nationwide festival of educational programs about nanoscale science, engineering, and technology and their impact on society. NanoDays events have taken place at science museums, research centers, and universities across the country from Puerto Rico to Hawaii. NanoDays events can engage people of all ages in learning about this emerging field of research, which holds the promise of developing revolutionary materials and technologies.

Learn more

NanoDays future dates

NanoDays activities can be used anytime throughout the year.

NanoDays events are often held from the last weekend in March through the first weekend in April. Future dates for NanoDays are:
- 2023: March 25-April 2
Calendar of STEM-related seasonal events and holidays
Ideas for incorporating current science, engineering, and technology content into holidays, seasons, annual events, and special events.
National Nano Day (October 9th)
National Nanotechnology Day (#NationalNanoDay) is an annual celebration and pays homage to the nanometer scale, 10^-9 meters.
- https://www.nano.gov/nationalnanoday