Unit NanoTech:
Insights into a Nano-Sized World

Unit Overview

Lesson 1 provides an overview of nanotechnology as a new frontier in material science and engineering and how it has become important to technological advances in our society. Topics covered include an introduction to nanotechnology and its history, the nano-size length scale, types of nano phenomena and properties, real-world applications, research technologies and consumer goods that use nanotechnology and misconceptions about nanotechnology. A PowerPoint presentation is included to introduce the topics. In the associated activity, students make measurements of common objects and convert their units into nanometers, cultivating an understanding of the very small size of the nano world.

Lesson 2 introduces students to specific fields and applications in nanoscience through the use of three mini laboratory exercises. A teacher demo piques their interest in the odd and intriguing nano-material behaviors they witness with ferrofluids, quantum dots, and gold nanoparticles, before conducting three hands-on activities on those topics. Each activity includes a student worksheet.

Educational Standards

Each TeachEngineering lesson or activity is correlated to one or more K-12 science, technology, engineering or math (STEM) educational standards.

All 100,000+ K-12 STEM standards covered in TeachEngineering are collected, maintained and packaged by the Achievement Standards Network (ASN), a project of D2L (www.achievementstandards.org).

In the ASN, standards are hierarchically structured: first by source; e.g., by state; within source by type; e.g., science or mathematics; within type by subtype, then by grade, etc.

See individual lessons and activities for standards alignment.

Unit Schedule

• Day 1: Nanotechnology as a Whole lesson
• Day 2: What is a Nanometer? activity
• Day 3: Fun with Nanotechnology lesson
• Day 4: Magnetic Fluids activity and Nanoparticles & Light Energy Experiment: Quantum Dots and Colors activity
• Day 5-6: Thirsty for Gold activity

Worksheets and Attachments

Assessment

Unit Summary Team Poster: After completing the lessons and associated activities, assign student pairs or lab groups (~two students) to each create posters that summarize what was learned during the unit. The intent is for students to apply their newly acquired knowledge and supplement it with additional research. Evaluate team posters using the attached NanoTech Unit Poster Rubric. Require posters to include the following:

1. Nanotechnologies: Have students pick one major nanotechnology to investigate, such as, carbon nano tubes, quantum dots, gold nanoparticles, gold nanoshells, ferrofluids, etc.
2. Provide an introduction to the technology that includes:

• History of discovery or timeline of development
• Basic chemistry and physics principles that govern functionality
• Recap of applications with a thesis statement on a chosen focus application

3. Provide a science background section detailing more in-depth concepts of chemistry and physics. Use equations, pictures and diagrams to illustrate and clearly communicate information.
4. Provide an engineering applications section detailing the specific application chosen. Incorporate graphics (pictures, equations, diagrams) to clearly explain the information. Also provide descriptions of:

• How chemistry and physics theories and models are used to make this technology functionally meaningful\
• Any consumer, medical, industrial data that supports applications emergence into society and the impact this technology is expected to have in its field
• Advantages and disadvantages nanotechnology has over current/conventional technologies
• Any expected side-effects or environmental impacts of this technology when used for application chosen

5. Provide a concise yet thorough summary of the nanotechnology and specific application information.

Other Related Information

See a concise, introductory 22-slide presentation by the National Cancer Institute called, "What is Nanotechnology?' that covers the nanoscale and its unique characteristics, potential benefits, various nanodevices including nanopores, quantum dots, and gold nanoshells, and designing nanodevices for the body and medical applications: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/understandingcancer/nanodevices/AllPages

Copyright

Contributors

Supporting Program

Acknowledgements

This curriculum was created by the University of Houston's College of Engineering with the support of National Science Foundation GK-12 grant no. 0840889. However, these contents do not necessarily represent the policies of the National Science Foundation, and you should not assume endorsement by the federal government.