Career Exploration Module – DAY FIVE
Nanotechnology Exploration
Lesson Title
STEM – How do
they build so
small?
Cluster
Pathways
Nanotechnology
Essential
Question
Why is
nanotechnology
so important?
What fields does
it apply to other
than just
medical?
TEKS
Career Portals:
1.A, 1.B, 2.A,
2.B, 2.E, 3.B,
4.F, 4.G, 4.H
Prior Student
Learning
Students should
have already
been presented
the Career
Module
Introduction
Estimated time
45 minutes
Objectives
- Identify and explore career opportunities within the STEM Pathway
(Nanotechnology)
Materials/Equipment/Handouts Needed
- Computer with internet access
- One pair of oven mitts for each member of each group
- A snap together set of building blocks (30-50 for each group)
- Handouts
Introduction/Engage
- Instruct students to retrieve Career Pathway Vocabulary Activity Mat
from first day
- Go over unit specific terms
- Introduce the lesson by reviewing the Careers in STEM slide
presentation (slides 18-19)
- Ask class if they have ever seen a movie or TV show where someone
gets shrunk down so they can enter another person’s body to heal
them? Have a video clip ready to show.
Activities
- Review vocabulary terms and definitions relevant to today’s lesson
- Distribute and review hands-on career exploration activity handouts
 Just How Small is a Nano?
 How do they Build so Small?
Lesson Closure
- Review details of the STEM Nanotechnology Pathway using
questioning techniques
- Discuss upcoming career module experiences and expectations
Assessment
- The students complete the handout that explains nanoscale
- Complete the building activity using bare hands and then mitts
Extension
- The students can research other applications, like computers, cell
phones, etc., and present the findings in class
Accommodations for Learning Differences
- Accommodations Manual
- Guidelines and Procedures for Adapting Instructional Materials
- Sample Curriculum Customizations for Learning Differences
- Lesson Plan/Curriculum Modification Checklist
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2015. All rights reserved
Day 5 of 10
Page 1
Just how Small is a Nano? Key
Complete examples and explanation
A two meter tall man is two billion nanometers tall!
A pinhead sized freckle is one millimeter or one million nanometers.
Biological cells like this red blood cell are about 10,000
nanometers across.
DNA molecules are about 2.5
nanometers wide.
1 Meter = 1 Billion Nanometers
Individual atoms are only tenths
of a nanometer in diameter.
1 Millimeter = 1 Million Nanometers
1 Micrometer = 1,000 Nanometers
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2015. All rights reserved
Day 5 of 10
Page 2
Just how Small is a Nano?
Name ________________________________ Class Period ________________________Date _____________________
Complete examples and explanation
A two meter tall man is ________________________ nanometers tall!
A pinhead sized freckle is ____ millimeter or ____________________________________ nanometers.
Biological cells like this red blood cell are about __________________
nanometers across.
DNA molecules are about
___________ nanometers wide.
1 Meter = _________________________ Nanometers
1 Millimeter = _________________________ Nanometers
Individual atoms are only _______ of
a nanometer in diameter.
1 Micrometer = _________________________ Nanometers
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2015. All rights reserved
Day 5 of 10
Page 3
NANOTECHNOLOGY CAREER PATHWAY
HOW DO THEY BUILD SO SMALL?
Name ______________________________________________________________________
Class Period ________________ Date ___________________ Score ___________ out of 100
How do they build such small things?
In this pathway you will explore what it is like to be in the nanotechnology pathway. You are
going to do an experiment that models why nanotechnology is important.
Terms
 Nanoscale - a measurable size that relates to microscopic particles of matter, devices,
etc., that get measured in nanometers or microns

Nanomachines - incredibly small machines like gears, switches, pumps, or engines
made from individual atoms. Nanomachines could be made into nanorobots (sometimes
called nanobots) that could be injected into our bodies to carry out repairs, or sent into
hazardous or dangerous environments, perhaps to clean up disused nuclear
power plants. As is so often the case, nature leads the way. Scientists have already
found numerous examples of nanomachines in the natural world. For example, common
bacteria, called E.coli, can build itself a little nanotechnology tail that it whips around like
a kind of propeller to move it closer to food. Making nanomachines is also known
as molecular manufacturing and molecular nanotechnology.
Scenario
We have all seen a movie or a TV show where someone must be “shrunk” down to go into
another person’s body to repair a vital part, or the patient will die. (Teacher note: do a web
search for an example to show.) Many people think you can do the repairs using normal tools or
equipment. Let’s see just how well that works.
Instructions
1. Using your building blocks create an object of your choice or follow the kit’s instructions.
Do this with your bare hands. Allow 10-15 minutes to do this
2. Now repeat the process but while wearing oven mitts. Allow 15-20 minutes to do this.
3. Classroom discussion at the end about what you learned and why you now can see that
nanotechnology is an important field.
Materials (each group gets this)
 One pair of oven mitts for each member
 A snap together set of building blocks (30-50)
 Handouts
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2015. All rights reserved
Day 5 of 10
Page 4