Education and Outreach: Nanotechnology Activity Guides
Nanotechnology Mitten Challenge
Audience: All ages
Time Needed: 30 minutes
Objectives:
- To introduce nanotechnology with a hands-on activity
Related Wisconsin Model Academic Science Standards:
- A.8.1 Show that technology has allowed us to further the efforts
of science, and in turn, science has
allowed us to develop better technology
Activity Materials:
- 1 pair oven mitts per student
- 1 construction set with 30-50 small pieces for each group of students
Activity Instructions:
Current technology is very crude at manufacturing things on the nanoscale, kind of like trying to make Lego models while wearing oven mitts. This activity will help illustrate the idea that small things are best built using small tools. Nanotechnology enables us to manipulate materials at the molecular level.
Opening Discussion (5 minutes):
Ask the students what the smallest thing they can think of. If necessary, explain
to the class what atoms are, how small they are, and why they are important.
Lead a discussion on atoms and scale, focusing on what kinds of things could
be done on the atomic scale that might be difficult to do on a larger scale.
Group Activity (15-20 minutes):
Divide students into groups of about 4 students. Each group should have a Lego
set and each student should
have a pair of oven mitts.
Ask the students to put the oven mitts on their hands and build the model shown
on the Lego set. Stop the activity after 5 minutes and ask the students what
made the activity difficult. Point out that the size of the tools should match
the size of the objects to be manipulated. For example, you wouldn’t use
a pair of tweezers to pick up ice cubes from a ice bucket, nor would you use
ice tongs to remove a wooden splinter from
someone’s hand. Emphasize that in order to construct small things you need
small tools. The students will then be asked to repeat the exercise without
wearing the oven mitts. This part of the activity could be made into a competition,
if desired.
Wrap-up Discussion (5 minutes):
Confirm that the activity was easier without the oven mitts and discuss current
trends or applications of nanotechnology.
Required Background Information:
Today’s technology is too large and bulky to manufacture things on the scale of molecules, much like oven mitts are too large and bulky to snap together small Lego blocks. As nanotechnology continues to be refined and improved, we may be able to use atoms and molecules just like Legos, snapping them together easily to create tiny structures and machines. This ability will help us improve existing technologies, like computers, and open up a realm of possibilities that may allow us to lead better, cleaner, and more efficient lives.
Supplemental Materials:
- Building Guide (pdf)
References:
- “Nanotechnology,” http://www.zyvex.com/nano
Authors:
IPSE Interns: Nancy Karuri, Yvonne Kao
IPSE Leadership Team: Wendy C. Crone, Amy Payne, Greta Zenner, and Tom Derenne
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The Nanotechnology Activity Guides are a product of the Materials Research Science and Engineering Center and the Internships in Public Science Education Project of the University of Wisconsin - Madison. Funding provided by the National Science Foundation.