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Exploring Tools: Special Microscopes
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In this activity, learners use a flexible magnet as a model for a scanning probe microscope (SPM). They learn that SPMs are an example of a special tool that scientists use to work on the nanoscale.

Laser Projection Microscope
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In this activity, learners use a laser pointer to project a microscopic image of a liquid sample suspended from the tip of a syringe.

Mystery Shapes
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In this activity, learners describe an object they can’t see. After someone picks outs a few mystery objects and places them in a pillowcase, learners will investigate using only their hands.

Mitten Challenge
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In this activity, learners try to put together toy bricks—wearing oven mitts on their hands! This activity shows learners how difficult it is to build small things when your tools are too big.

Jell-O Model of Microfluidics
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This activity uses Jell-O(R) to introduce learners to microfluidics, the flow of fluids through microscopic channels.

Size Wheel
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In this fun sticker activity, learners will create a size wheel with images of objects of different size, from macroscopic scale (like an ant) to nanoscale (like DNA).

Cutting it Down to Nano
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This simple activity uses paper and scissors to convey two key concepts to learners: the nanoscale is very small and working on the nanoscale requires special tools.

Exploring Tools: Mitten Challenge
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In this activity, learners build a LEGO® structure while wearing mittens. This activity shows learners how difficult it is to build small things when your tools are too big.

Perspectives: Powers of 10
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In this activity, learners complete a series of drawing activities to explore scale and powers of 10. Learners first trace each other on 1-meter-square pieces of paper.

Exploring the Nanoworld with LEGO Bricks: Probing the Structure of Materials at the Nanoscale
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In this activity (pages 17-31), learners are introduced to techniques that are used to determine the structures of solid materials.

Paper Cutting
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In this activity about scale, learners investigate the world of the very small by cutting a 28 centimeter strip of paper in half as many times as they can.

DNA the Easy Way
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This demonstration can be used to help learners visualize DNA by lysing (breaking open) bacterial cells on a slide and “stringing up” the DNA with a toothpick in less than one minute.