Growing crystals is a great way to start a unit on Rocks and Minerals. Trying different substances, like copper sulfate, Epsom salts, and salt, you'll see widely different shapes. You can use the crystals you grow as a reference throughout your entire study.
Use this to learn and reinforce answers to questions such as:
❑ What crystal shapes do various minerals grow?
❑ Do all minerals grow the same shapes?
❑ Can a single mineral grow different shapes?
Concepts Addressed
♦ Minerals are inorganic solids
♦ Minerals are crystalline
♦ Minerals are naturally occurring
♦ Minerals can form from dissolved substances
Standards Addressed
NGSS MS-ESS2-1
TEKS 6.6C
Materials Needed: Magnifying lens, tray, craft sticks, small cups, plastic plates, two or more of the following salts: alum powder, kosher salt, sugar, copper sulfate, borax, epsom salts
Teaching Time About 30-40 min, plus two or more days for crystals to grow.
Student Sheets Scaffolded writing prompts & lab reporting
Answer Keys and Teacher Notes address most questions and issues that might arise in this study—you shouldn’t have to do any outside research unless you want to.
