The incredibly shrinking meter—decimeters to centimeters, to millimeters, and now to nanometers! Learners may have a difficult time visualizing particles on a nanoscale. Help them see a little clearer using a well-designed lesson that allows them to explore the meaning of a nanometer. They take a good look to discover where the nanometer fits in relation to other measurements in the metric system.

Concepts

nanotechnology, scale, units of measurement, unit conversion, nanometers

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Additional Tags

science

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Instructional Ideas

• Incorporate as an introduction to the nanoscale
• Have pupils create a diagram of a real-life object shrunk by different powers of 10

Classroom Considerations

• Review prefixes such as centi, mili, and deci prior to the activity

Pros

• Adaptable to different grade levels
• Provides ideas for extension

Cons

• None