Growing a Crystal Garden

Picture of the growing sight for the 5th graders crystal gardens.  Kind of messy but still very fascinating to watch grow. 
(Click to enlarge)		 As part of a science unit on Rocks and Minerals the 5th grade grew there very own crystal gardens.

Objectives: 

  • The students will follow the recipe to grow the crystal.  
  • The students will observe the formation of the crystals on many types of material. 
  • The students will keep a written log of these observations.
  • The students will write an acrostic poem at the conclusion of the week that describes their garden. (Click to see an sample poem)

 

Recipe on growing a crystal garden:

  1. In the base of a clear plastic cup put a variety of materials for the crystals to form on. (We used charcoal briquettes, sponge, paper towel, rocks, & aluminum foil)  
  2. Drop some food coloring on to the base material.  Just a few drops of which ever colors the student wants is all that it takes.
  3. Mix together in a cup:
    * 2 tablespoons Water
    * 2 tablespoons Salt
    * 2 tablespoons Mrs. Stewart's Bluing (found in the laundry detergent isle)
  4. Then pour this mixture over the base material and watch.  
  5. On the second and third day add some more of the original mixture.  Making sure not to pour on top of the crystals already growing.

Watch to see which materials produce the best crystals.  

Up close Picture of the many colors produced as the crystals grew!
(Click to enlarge)

One of the students observing her crystal garden and writing in her journal. 

Students looking at the crystals under the microscopes.
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