The Art of Crystals: Growing Your Own Crystals

World of Crystals

Crystals are made of tiny particles called molecules that join together in a unique, repeating pattern. 

Different types of crystals are made from different materials, like salt, sugar, or rock minerals. 

Shape of Crystals:

• Crystals have different shapes because their molecules line up uniquely.
• Molecule lineup is determined by the type of material and the conditions in which the crystal forms, such as
  • Temperature
  • How quickly the crystal grows.
• Salt crystals often form cube shapes, while quartz crystals are long, six-sided prisms.

Growing Crystals At Home

We can grow crystals using kitchen ingredients such as salt, sugar, and baking soda. 

Materials Needed for Sugar Crystals:

• Sugar
• Warm water
• A jar
• A piece of string
• A pencil or popsicle stick
• Food Coloring

Steps:

1. Fill the jar with warm water.
2. Dissolve sugar in warm water until no more will dissolve. Add food coloring for colorful crystals.
3. Tie a piece of string to a pencil or popsicle stick and balance it on top of the jar so the string hangs down into the solution.
4. Leave the jar in a place where it won’t be disturbed.
5. After a week or so, you’ll see sugar crystals growing on the string.

Fun Facts

Here are some interesting facts about crystals:

• The largest natural crystals ever found are selenite crystals in Mexico’s Naica Mine, some of which are over 30 feet long!
• Rock candy is made of sugar crystals you can grow and eat.
• Many precious gemstones, like diamonds, rubies, and emeralds, are actually crystals formed deep inside the Earth.
• Crystals aren’t just in rocks and jewelry—they’re also found in snowflakes, computer screens, and even our bodies (like in bones and teeth)!

Review

Let’s quickly recap what we learned about crystals:

• What tiny particles are crystals made of? Molecules
• How are the tiny particles in crystals joined? Unique, Repeating Patterns
• Which three materials found in the kitchen can be used to grow crystals? Salt, Sugar, Baking Soda
• What is the shape of quartz crystals? Six-sided Prisms
• What is the most common shape of salt crystals? Cube