Crystal comparisons
May 27, 2026 • 7:09 PM UTC
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Daniel Bressler
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So, its the end of the year in Chemistry and the students have already taken their final exam. I needed a low-prep, engaging activity for the final day that wouldn't make a huge mess. Like that slime lab from a few years ago. (Never again.)
Students started by preparing a trading card with one of several compounds in crystalline form. Notable standouts included sugar, table salt, and monosodium glutamate, but we also had sodium acetate and powdered sulfur. Students then observed their sample under magnification (most opted for 50x) and used their phone cameras to make creating a drawing of the crystals easier. Then they exchanged cards to see what other people were seeing.
As we wrapped that part up, I put students in groups to create an explanation on whiteboards of why the crystals were different shapes. After some back and forth, the group consensus was that the shapes were determined by the arrangement of ions/molecules in the compounds. We've used particle drawings throughout the class, so this was a pretty easy conclusion for them to arrive at.
Overall the activity went well, even if it wasn't very deep. I'm looking forward to using the foldscopes in Earth Science next year.
Students started by preparing a trading card with one of several compounds in crystalline form. Notable standouts included sugar, table salt, and monosodium glutamate, but we also had sodium acetate and powdered sulfur. Students then observed their sample under magnification (most opted for 50x) and used their phone cameras to make creating a drawing of the crystals easier. Then they exchanged cards to see what other people were seeing.
As we wrapped that part up, I put students in groups to create an explanation on whiteboards of why the crystals were different shapes. After some back and forth, the group consensus was that the shapes were determined by the arrangement of ions/molecules in the compounds. We've used particle drawings throughout the class, so this was a pretty easy conclusion for them to arrive at.
Overall the activity went well, even if it wasn't very deep. I'm looking forward to using the foldscopes in Earth Science next year.
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