How are crystals made? | 11-14 years

A photograph showing crystals of metamizole under microscope

Source: © Shutterstock

Use this lesson plan for 11–14 year olds to introduce the idea that crystals form as a substance cools, and explore how cooling rate affects crystal size.

In this practical activity, students work in pairs to explore the formation of crystals, and investigate how the rate at which a substance cools influences the size of the crystals produced. The activity is a good introduction to growing crystals, and by the end of the lesson students should be able to describe how:

Large crystals grow as substances cool slowly.
Small crystals grow as substances cool rapidly.
Crystals grow as particles and form regular arrangements during the cooling process.

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