Quick Links
- NanoDays - NanoDays is a nationwide festival of educational programs about nanoscale science and engineering and its potential impact on the future.
- K-12 Teachers - Curriculum and activity resources for K-12 teachers.
- Nano Exhibition
- Nano Exhibition Audio Description for visitors who are blind or have low vision
- DIY Nano app download from the Apple App Store; activities you can do at home
- DIY Nano activities you can do at home - Book and Individual PDFs
Resources - Learn More:
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2021: March 27-April 4
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2022: March 26-April 3
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2023: March 25-April 2
- List of institutions hosting an event in the United States in 2008-2015
- More about NanoDays (hands on activities, training materials, promotional materials)
K-12 Teachers
Curriculum and activity resources for K-12 teachers.
Learn more
Nano Exhibition
- Nano exhibition learn about the interactive museum exhibition at 93 locations across the United States
- Nano exhibition Audio Description (AD) for visitors who are blind or have low vision
DIY Nano app
Downloadable from the iTunes store. Free.
The DIY Nano app allows families to experience and learn about nanoscale science, engineering, and technology at home!
- iPad version - DIY Nano HD
- Tech support from Lawrence Hall of Science
DIY Nano activites
DIY Nano book
All the DIY Nano activities contained in one book available for free digital download.
These 'Do It Yourself' Nano activities and experiments allow families to experience and learn at home.
DIY Nano (printable PDF versions)
Individual PDF versions of each activity included in the DIY Nano app available for free digital download.
In this activity, kids make Ooze and then test the material in an egg drop! Suitable for kids ages 5 and up.
This activity sheet includes images and question prompts for the DIY Nano Space Elevator activity.
In this activity, kids imagine what the world might look like if we could build an elevator to space! Suitable for kids ages 5 and up.
This activity sheet can be printed out and used with the DIY Nano Mystery Shapes activity.
Can you see by feeling? In this activity, kids describe an object they can't see. Suitable for kids ages 3 and up.
Surprising things have nano connections! In this activity, kids build puzzles, using blocks with images related to nanotechnology. Kids ages 3 and up will enjoy putting together the puzzles. Kids ages 7 and up can make the puzzle blocks themselves.
Use this print file to make your own DIY Nano puzzle blocks. Print on heavy paper, then cut them out, fold them up, and tape them together!
How can we detect things too small to see? In this activity, kids sniff out scents hidden in balloons! Suitable for kids ages 3 and up.
This optional activity sheet can be printed out and used with the DIY Nano Smelly Balloons activity.
How is DNA used to make tiny things? In this activity, kids extract DNA from wheat germ. Suitable for kids ages 5 and up.
Can a pencil conduct electricity? In this activity, kids complete an electrical circuit with graphite (pencil “lead”). Suitable for kids ages 5 and up.
What’s in your sunblock? In this activity, kids find out why some mineral sunblock rubs in clear. Suitable for kids ages 5 and up.
How can you make rainbow colors out of clear nail polish? In this activity, kids use clear nail polish to create a beautiful iridescent pattern on black paper. Suitable for kids ages 3 and up.
Can sand keep itself dry? In this activity, kids play with surprising sand that doesn’t get wet! Suitable for kids ages 3 and up.
What’s the right tool for the job? In this activity, kids try to put together toy bricks—wearing oven mitts on their hands! Suitable for kids ages 3 and up.
How can things build themselves? In this activity, kids use chemistry to “self- assemble” gummy shapes. Suitable for kids ages 3 and up.
Do small things behave differently? In this activity, kids try pouring water out of a regular cup and a miniature cup. It’s harder than it sounds! Suitable for kids ages 3 and up.
Which fizzes faster—big pieces or little pieces? In this activity, kids explore the chemical reaction between water and effervescent antacid tablets. Suitable for kids of all ages
Is a Blue Morpho butterfly really blue? In this activity, kids explore how nano- sized structures can create brilliant color. Suitable for kids ages 7 and up.
Videos - Introductions to Nanoscale science and Nanotechnology
What's the big deal about nanotechnology? It's all about being really small. Big things are coming from the tiny world of nanotechnology.
What is a nanometer? What things are measured in nanometers? Is a red blood cell bigger or smaller than a bacteria? This video takes you on an adventure of scale from the macrosize to the microsize to the nanosize! (2:52 minutes)
This video introduces the scientists, tools, and equipment found in clean rooms, a special kind of lab used to do nanoscale research. (3:26 minutes)
Zoom into a Blue Morpho Butterfly
Zoom into the natural nanostructures that manipulate light on a Blue Morpho Butterfly!
Zoom into the inner workings of a computer microchip!
In this film "Zoom into a Lotus Leaf," see an up close look at the tiny nanostructures that give the leaf its unique behavior.
Nanoscale science and technology (“nano” for short) is all around us and growing rapidly. Learn how you can use nanotechnology to clean drinking water right now!
Discovery how nanotechnology found in nature may eventually be applied to make even the most mundane tasks like scrubbing toilets a thing of the past!
Nanoscale science and technology (“nano” for short) is all around us and growing rapidly. See how even chocolate has nano implications and how we are in fact nanosensors!
Nanoscale science and technology (“nano” for short) is all around us and growing rapidly. Explore how nanoscale science impacts even simple, childhood pleasures like blowing bubbles.
Meet Macro and Nano. Nano is WAY smaller than Macro and has some very surprising properties! (32 seconds)
Meet Macro and Nano. Nano is WAY smaller than Macro and has some very surprising properties! (35 seconds)
Meet Macro and Nano. Nano is WAY smaller than Macro and has some very surprising properties! (34 seconds)
Meet Macro and Nano. Nano is WAY smaller than Macro and has some very surprising properties! (42 seconds)
Meet Macro and Nano. Nano is WAY smaller than Macro and has some very surprising properties! (33 seconds)
Meet Macro and Nano. Nano is WAY smaller than Macro and has some very surprising properties!
In this episode of O Wow Moments with Mr. O from the Children's Museum of Houston, Mr. O compares sunblock containing nanoparticles to ointment.
In this episode of O Wow Moments with Mr. O from the Children's Museum of Houston, learn how nanotechnology is being used to create new types of protective fabrics.
A short film comedically exploring the idea of invisibility cloaks and how this possible new technology may influence society.
In this episode of O Wow Moments with Mr. O from the Children's Museum of Houston, we take a look at a Nobel Prize winning experiment!
In this episode of O Wow Moments with Mr. O from the Children's Museum of Houston, we take a look at Nanocoatings!
Mr. O talks about iridescence and Blue Morpho butterflies in another "O Wow" moment at the Children's Museum of Houston.
It turns out that we are nanosensors - our noses actually sense molecules. Explore how our sense of smell works!
Examine how nanoscale science and technology are applied to create clothes that are stain resistant using nature as inspiration.
Find out how to make your own ice cream topping that requires a scientist (namely, you) to create it and how it relates to nanotechnology!
Variety of fun, educational videos about nanotechnology produced by the Museum of Science, Boston
NanoDays Event Promotional Video
NanoDays promotional video invites learners of all ages to "come see what's so big about the super small!" at NanoDays events nationwide. (30 seconds)
Videos about Societal impacts
Wonders and Worries of Nanotechnology
A short 3-minute film to aid in the discussion of the societal and ethical implication of nanotechnology.
Wonders and Worries of Nanotechnology: Who Benefits
A short 3-minute film to aid in the discussion of the societal and ethical implication of nanotechnology.
Wonders and Worries of Nanotechnology: Regulation
A short 3-minute film to aid in the discussion of the societal and ethical implication of nanotechnology.
Wonders and Worries of Nanotechnology: Ask and Research
A short 3-minute film to aid in the discussion of the societal and ethical implication of nanotechnology.
A short film that stimulates conversation about the impact the field of nanoscale science may have on our lives. (11:41 minutes)
A short film that stimulates conversation about the impact the field of nanoscale science may have on our lives. (9:56 minutes)
A 20 minute film meant to inspire conversation about weighing the risks and benefits of new technology.
Does Every Silver Lining Have a Cloud?
Duke University researchers explain the relationship between nanomaterials, in particular nano silver, and their potential impact on the ecosystem.
Changing Our Relationship with Science
This film asks scientists from to imagine the future of science and technology and the scientific enterprise as a whole.
Videos about Nanomedicine
What is Nanomedicine? This is a narrated-and-captioned 2.5 minute video that provides a brief overview of some of the basic ideas and goals of nanomedicine.
Virtual exhibit on cancer nanomedicine. Hear stories from researchers working on the cutting edge of cancer detection and treatment. Play interactive games an learn more.
Zapping Tumors with Gold Nanoshells
The story of how physicist Naomi Halas and bioengineer Jennifer West hatched an idea that could someday lead to relief for millions of cancer patients.
Stealth Imaging with Iron Nanoparticles
The research story of Ralph Weissleder and Mukesh Harisinghani, who collaborated on a clinical trial to determine if iron-oxide nanoparticles could enhance a diagnostic image.
Battling Cancer with Nanotechnology
Mauro Ferrari, a leading pioneer in the field of cancer nanomedicine, shares his research.
Printed introductions to nanoscale science, engineering, and technology
How Small is Nano? children's book
Step down in size to find out the answers to questions about size and learn about different types of units that are used to measure very tiny things. This children's book is available for free download, or for purchase via LuLu.com in hardcover, or LuLu.com in softcover, or Amazon.com in softcover.
Is That Robot Real? children's book
What is a robot, and how small can robots be? Learn what makes a robot a robot, then step down in size and find out which robots are real and which are science fiction. This children's book is available for free download, or for purchase via LuLu.com in hardcover, or LuLu.com in softcover, or Amazon.com in softcover.
Audio & Podcasts
Nano exhibition Audio Description
Audio Description (AD) digital files for the Nano mini-exhibition, intended for visitors who are blind or have low vision
SmallTalk is a 5 part podcast series chatting about nanotechnology with leading scientists, thinkers, artists, writers, and visionaries produced by the Exploratorium
Learn more about the Nano exhibition
Más información acerca de la Mini-exhibición Nano
Audio Description
for visitors who are blind or have low vision
English Audio Description Español Audioguía
What is Nano?
Learn more about nanoscale science, engineering, and technology
Explore Science
resources for educators, scientists, and public audiences
http://www.nisenet.org/explore-science
