Smithsonian Crystal Growing

Posted by Laura on Tuesday Feb 9, 2010 Under Home Schooling, Science

For Christmas, {A} (yes, still thinking on the initial thing….)…(OK, wait, that’s not true…I haven’t had time to think much about it….)….but anyway, she got this Smithsonian Crystal Growing kit, from her Uncle Brian.   He gets VERY excited, when he finds good gifts like these for the kids, because he knows I’ll be happy because “it’s educational”.  (That’s right, Brother.  ; )

SmithsonianCrystals A Smithsonian Crystal Growing ourhouseofjoyfulnoise.com

Science B Smithsonian Crystal Growing ourhouseofjoyfulnoise.comShe was sure to have her goggles on, after all of Uncle Brian’s warnings about being SURE she did this experiment under the advisement of one of her parents, and to wear the goggles!  She’s a rule follower most of the time anyway.

A Smithsonian Crystal Growing ourhouseofjoyfulnoise.comHere, she was looking for some of the bigger seed crystals, to work with.  When she found them, she removed them to be able to use in the next step.

B Smithsonian Crystal Growing ourhouseofjoyfulnoise.comThen she added the required amount of hot water to the crystals left in the container.  She stirred with the stick until they were all completely dissolved.

C Smithsonian Crystal Growing ourhouseofjoyfulnoise.com

D Smithsonian Crystal Growing ourhouseofjoyfulnoise.comIn another plastic container, she placed 2 of the granite based stones.

E Smithsonian Crystal Growing ourhouseofjoyfulnoise.comShe then poured her dissolved crystal solution over them, covering them completely with the liquid, and filling the container to a certain level.

F Smithsonian Crystal Growing ourhouseofjoyfulnoise.comThen, she needed to try and place the larger seed crystals, that she removed earlier, very carefully onto the granite base rocks.   Then the citrine yellow was done.

G Smithsonian Crystal Growing ourhouseofjoyfulnoise.comShe did the same process with the emerald green color.

H Smithsonian Crystal Growing ourhouseofjoyfulnoise.com

And when she was done with that, she did the same with the aqua marine blue.

I Smithsonian Crystal Growing ourhouseofjoyfulnoise.com They all sat here on this make-shift platform we set up, to grow for several days.

We all couldn’t help but keep checking on them. A lot. Like waiting for water to boil, right? lol

The results of this science project, will be coming up right here,  very soon.


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4 Responses to “Smithsonian Crystal Growing”

  1. Paula Says:

    Cool! We’ve done the growing crystal thing with stuff around the house. Oh, and now I have to fill out everything all over again, too!!

  2. Teri Eddy Says:

    We did the Smithsonian Volcano kit and it was lots of fun! We’ll have to check out this one too. :)
    I look forward to seeing the crystals.
    On a side note, [M] is growing sea monkeys in our kitchen (which are actually just brine shrimp). I guess when they grow up, we’ll feed them to our fish. I told him not to name any of them LOL!

  3. Laura Says:

    Paula – You’ll have to let me know how you can grow crystals with stuff around the house! Interesting.

    Teri – You want a good laugh? When I was a pre-teen, I was babysitting for some kids, and had to make them dinner. They had a big bowl of sea-monkeys they had had for a LONG time. It was in my way….so I went to move it, and I dropped it! :X The bowl smashed on the floor, and the sea-monkeys and water was spreading across the kitchen floor rapidly. I was in such panic…What do I do? Get sponge?….no no…..paper towels?….kitchen towel?….there was just no way to save them. lol. I’ll never forget that, and the panic I felt. I killed their pets. lol

  4. Kim Says:

    Looks fun A. Love the goggles! xo

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