Formation – Optional Activity

Experiment 2A: Salt Crystal Garden

What You'll Do:

1. Create Your Crystal Solution (15 minutes - need adult help):
   • Have an adult heat 1 cup of water until it's hot (but not boiling)
   • Slowly add table salt while stirring until no more will dissolve (about 3-4 tablespoons)
   • You'll know it's ready when salt starts collecting at the bottom
   • Add 2-3 more tablespoons of salt to make it extra-concentrated
2. Build Your Crystal Growing Setup:
   • Tie a cotton string to a pencil, leaving 6 inches hanging down
   • The pencil should rest across the top of a clear glass jar
   • Make sure the string hangs into the jar without touching the bottom
   • Fun tip: Tie a small rock or bead to the end as a "starter crystal"
3. Watch the Magic Happen:
   • Pour the hot salt water into your jar (get adult help!)
   • Make sure the string is completely underwater
   • Cover with a paper towel to keep dust out but let water evaporate
   • Put it somewhere quiet where it won't be bumped
4. Become a Crystal Scientist:
   • Day 1: Look for tiny crystals starting to form on your string
   • Day 3: Measure how much your crystals have grown
   • Day 7: Carefully remove your string and examine the crystal shapes with your magnifying glass
   • Draw your crystals at each stage and write down what changes you see

What You Will Learn: You'll see how water evaporation concentrates minerals to form crystals, just like what happens in underground caves! You'll notice that salt forms cube-shaped crystals and learn that different minerals make different crystal shapes.

Experiment 2B: Sugar Crystal Rock Candy

What You'll Do:

1. Make Your Super-Sweet Solution (20 minutes - adult help needed):
   • Have an adult mix 3 cups sugar with 1 cup water in a pot
   • Adult heats and stirs until all sugar dissolves
   • Let it cool for 15 minutes (it will be very hot!)
   • Add food coloring if you want colored crystals
2. Prepare Your Crystal Seeds:
   • Dip wooden sticks in water, then roll them in granulated sugar
   • Let them dry for 10 minutes - these sugar grains will help your crystals start growing
   • Clip the sticks to clothespins so they hang into jars without touching the sides or bottom
3. Start Your Crystal Farm:
   • Pour the cooled sugar solution into jars around your sticks
   • Cover with coffee filters (lets air in but keeps dust out)
   • Find a quiet spot where they won't be disturbed
4. Watch Your Crystals Grow (1-2 weeks):
   • Take daily photos to see how your crystals change
   • After a week, measure your biggest crystals with a ruler
   • Notice how the crystals are rectangular shaped, not cubes like salt
   • Watch how crystals grow bigger and clearer over time

What You Will Learn: You'll discover that slow, steady conditions create the best crystals - just like in nature! You'll also see that different materials (salt vs. sugar) make different shaped crystals, and you can eat your experiments when you're done!

International Gem Society

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