How to Make Crystal Ornaments

By: Merishel Collins

Target Audience

Teachers of students in a middle school science classroom

Parents interested in unique family activities for home

Grading Rubric 13-15 pts. A 10-12 pts. B 7 - 9 pts. C 4 - 6 pts. D 0 - 3 pts. F

Topics 5 4 3 2 1 0

Followed Directions

Creativity

Demonstrated Proper Safety

Total

Place a check in each category for the point amount the learner should receive. 5 is the best effort possible and 0 is the least effort possible. The grading scale and rubric should be shared with the learners before they begin.

Crystals

Crystals are special rocks with different shapes and designs.

Certain types of crystals, like Amethyst, are not only beautiful but are believed by some to have healing powers.

There are hundreds of types of crystals in the world and all have a radiant beauty specific to the type.

The information button in the upper right hand corner of this slide will lead you to a web page with some examples of crystals.

Click here to view samples of crystals

Supplies Needed

Pipe Cleaners of various colors. Borax Laundry Additive Heating element or stove Large coffee cans or pots to boil water Small can or beaker to suspend ornaments in Straws or pencils to suspend the ornaments Water Stirring rods String to tie the ornaments to the straws

SAFETY FIRST ALWAYS!

Do not allow children to handle the boiling water. Do not allow children to accidentally consume

the detergent additive. The adult or facilitator should handle the transfer

of the boiling water and oversee the use of the Borax.

If small children are involved the adult should handle all of the above.

Step One: Twist one to three pipe cleaners into a shape to make your ornament.

Many shapes can be made. A popular one is to take a red and a white pipe cleaner and twist them into a candy cane. ( This is usually a good one to start with.)

However, any shape can be made as long as it will fit into the small can you are using without touching the sides or the bottom. This will be explained in more detail in a later step.

Step 2: Take a piece of string and attach it to the ornament at the top and to the straw or pencil in the middle. A small 8oz. can with the

top only cut off or a beaker is what the ornament will be suspended in.

After testing to see if the ornament will hang in the can or beaker without touching the bottom or the sides we can boil our water and add our Borax.

Step 3: Boil water in a pot or large coffee can on a stove or a portable heating element. This will depend on your surroundings.

Borax

Step 4: After the water is ready carefully fill the can with boiling water leaving about ½ inch remaining at the top.Add Borax by using a spoonful at a time and stir until the Borax just begins to settle on the bottom without dissolving and the water is cloudy. This is when there is enough Borax in the can to form crystals.

Borax

Step 5: Now, hang your ornament in the beaker or can and let it settle so that it is not touching the bottom or the sides of the container. Make sure the top of the ornament is under the water/Borax solution.

The finished ProductAllow your ornament to cool. As it cools the extra detergent additive will cling to the pipe cleaner forming beautiful crystals. Depending upon how fast it cools will determine what size crystals. You see if you can figure out how to make them smaller or larger. Try not to move the crystal ornament until it is cool. Usually a few hours or if you want to be sure just let it cool overnight.

This activity can be done at home as a family when decorating the Christmas tree and a bunch of ornaments can be made. Color coordinating them can be fun for parents and kids.

This activity fits in with chemical bonding in basic chemistry and teaches safety in science experiments as well as allowing families to do something fun and creative together.

Using a microscope to look at the structure of the crystals and comparing the different ones formed in the group is a great idea. All of them will be unique yet in some ways similar.

Suggestions Don’t use too much Borax. It will just form a solid mass at

the bottom of the container. Add food coloring if you want a different look. Blue is nice

for snowflakes. Try one first to get the idea before doing a group of

ornaments or expecting a class of students to have no problems with it.

Don’t use Borax detergent it must be the additive and can be found at most local grocery stores.

Make sure it does not touch the sides or bottom. If it does you will have a very hard time getting the ornament out of the container. Even if you get it out, you will probably ruin the ornament.