Crystals...

The Outdoor Hour Challenge-Winter series # 6 Salt Study

This week the children and I did a salt study. We were able to grow our own crystal by evaporating a saturated solution of salt water in a sunny windowsill. The children were fascinated by the results, which I must say were very beautiful.  The kids learned that a crystal is an organized grouping of atoms, or molecules. Each crystal has different properties and shapes. For example, sugar crystals are oblong and slanted at the ends; salt crystals are cubic. With the use of a hand lens the cubical salt crystal formations were clearly visible.

Next week we will be doing a winter bird study. We have filled up the feeders and are eagerly anticipating our winged visitors!