““The Great Crystal Creation” The Great Crystal Creation”

Team Leader: Kendra Mallory

Team Members: Janice Scott, Zarina Qadir, Dwayne Fields, Theresa Hopkins, Valerie Hardy

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under grant No. EEC-0502174. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

http://educate.si.edu/resources/lessons/siyc/gems/start.html

Friday Feedback Friday Feedback SessionSession

• 40 minutes for feedback on each module– 15 minutes for first team– 15 minutes for second team– 10 minutes for discussion

• Each team presentation should contain roughly 7-10 PowerPoint slides

• Focus on engineering activities, inquiry activities, ethics

• Consider use of module concepts in three groups: elementary, junior high, high school

TasksTasks

1. Review existing module• Present ideas to enhance module for target

audience, • Consider content engineering activities, inquiry

activities, ethics• What else would you add, if anything?

2. Propose adaptation to other grade levels• Present ideas to modify for the two other target

audiences (e.g., if developed for HS, then suggest modifications for elementary and Jr. HS.)

• Consider content engineering activities, inquiry activities, ethics

Module EnhancementsModule Enhancements

• Research– Use of crystals in everyday life– Types of crystals, location, cost etc.

• Adapt vocabulary per grade level and across the curriculum

• Creative writing– Create and describe crystals and write about their

special powers (properties)– Write a persuasive commercial to advertise crystal

product

• Multicultural use of crystals

Engineering DesignEngineering Design

• Elementary– Design 2-dimensional snow flake – Create various types of crystals (Epsom salt, Kosher

salt, Alum etc.)

• High School– Design 3-dimensional snow flake crystals – Design crystal jewelry– Create a crystal painting

Scientific InquiryScientific Inquiry

• Elementary– Discover the density of various crystals/minerals via

liquid displacement

• High School– Discover what effects the density of crystals/minerals

EthicsEthics

• Value of Crystals– Mining crystals effect on the environment and people

(child labor laws, lost of life and limbs etc.)

• Multicultural value of crystals – Healing power of crystals – Aesthetic value – Industrial use

Modification 1Modification 1

Age Group: K-6• Engineering Design

– Design jewelry from crystals given

• Scientific Inquiry– Why would you use crystals for jewelry making?– How would you construct a design pattern from

crystals for jewelry making?

• Ethics– Is it fair to copy someone else’s jewelry design? Why?

Modification 2Modification 2

Age Group: 9-12• Engineering Design

– Construct crystals from chemicals for jewelry design

• Scientific Inquiry– How do chemicals affect the formation of crystals? – How can you identify authentic crystals from synthetic

crystals?

• Ethics– Is it ethical to sell synthetic crystals as authentic

crystals?

ReferencesReferences

Snow Flakes• www.snowcrystals.com

Density and crystals • www.edinformatics.com/math_science/density.htm

Jewelry Making • www.princetonol.com/groups/iad/lessons/high/Christa-

wire.htm

Crystal and Mineral Gallery • http://mineral.galleries.com/