Bumpy, Sticky, and Shaky: Nanoscale Science and the Curriculum

Nanoscience, or the study of the world at the size of a billionth of a meter, has the potential to help students see how all of the sciences are related. Behavior of materials at the nanoscale differs from materials at the macroscale. This article introduces three nanoscale properties and how they relate to various science domains. Three activities following an adapted learning cycle model are suggested for student exploration of three properties of the nanoscale: bumpy, sticky, and shaky. (Contains 6 figures.)