Objective

By the end of this lesson, the student will be able to create crystals using borax and water.

Materials and Prep

• Borax
• Water
• Measuring cup
• Mixing bowl
• String or pipe cleaners
• Pencil or popsicle stick
• Container or jar
• Parental supervision

Activities

1. Mix 1/2 cup of borax with 2 cups of boiling water in a mixing bowl. Stir until the borax is completely dissolved.

2. Shape a pipe cleaner or tie a string around a pencil or popsicle stick to create a crystal-growing shape.

3. Place the shaped pipe cleaner or string into a container or jar.

4. Carefully pour the borax solution into the container, covering the shape completely.

5. Let the container sit undisturbed for 24 hours, allowing the crystals to grow.

6. After 24 hours, carefully remove the crystal shape from the container and observe the beautiful crystals that have formed.

Kindergarten Grade Talking Points

• "Today, we are going to make crystals using borax and water."
• "Crystals are special structures that can form when certain substances dissolve in water and then slowly come together."
• "Borax is a white powder that can dissolve in water. When it dissolves, it forms tiny particles that can stick together to create crystals."
• "We will mix borax with boiling water to make a solution. A solution is when something dissolves in water."
• "We will then shape a pipe cleaner or tie a string around a pencil or popsicle stick to create a shape for our crystals to grow on."
• "We will place the shape into a container and pour the borax solution over it. We need to make sure the shape is completely covered."
• "We will let the container sit for 24 hours without disturbing it. During this time, the borax particles will come together and form crystals."
• "After 24 hours, we can carefully remove the crystal shape from the container and see the beautiful crystals that have grown."
• "Remember, always have adult supervision when working with borax and boiling water."