Overview
Nanotechnology is a new branch of science that deals with extremely small objects. As a new area of science it is important and imperative for students to find out about this field, which is quickly becoming a part of our everyday world with many products already having been released that uses nanotechnology. Although this field of science is exciting and expanding rapidly there are few references to nanotechnology in current middle school science textbooks; the creation of this unit plan is an important resource in teaching basic concepts about nanoscale and nanotechnology. To better acquaint oneself with nanotechnology, it is important to understand how many of the ideas of physics change as the size of the objects also change.
This unit is designed for students who have already been thoroughly exposed to Newton's three laws of motion, transfer of energy, properties of matter, and atomic theory. The unit will introduce students to some of the work currently being done in research facilities around the world involving nanotechnology, as well as some practical applications of this technology currently being used by industry.
This unit plan will develop three areas of nanotechnology for students; it is aligned with the state objectives for eighth grade students in Georgia. The three sections are: (1) The size of matter and how size determines the physical properties of objects; this will consist of a comparison of nanoparticles with objects in the macroscopic world. (2) The use of nanotechnology in delivery systems for medicines; this will consist of both practical uses and theoretical items still being explored. (3) The use of nanotechnology as building blocks for useful products in the macro-world; this will consist of a look at products already available for consumer consumption, and also potential products of the future that could change the landscape of Earth. It is designed to be taught over a three to four week period.
The GA state objectives that will be used as a correspondence to this unit will be: (S8P3) Students will investigate relationship between force, mass, and the motion of objects, (S8P5) Students will recognize characteristics of gravity, electricity, and magnetism as major kinds of forces acting in nature.
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