Students will investigate: What conditions help crystals grow best when a pipe cleaner is placed in a borax solution? They will safely shape and suspend a pipe-cleaner scaffold so it does not touch the jar, while an adult handles boiling water and the borax solution. With guidance from a community partner experienced in the experiment, students will use partner talks to reflect on successes, challenges, and teamwork before and after setup. They will demonstrate learning through a process video and create a before-and-after photo board featuring the finished crystal-covered pipe cleaner.

Students will investigate the essential question: What conditions help crystals grow best when a pipe cleaner is placed in a borax solution? They will design a pipe-cleaner scaffold and suspend it in a jar without touching the sides or bottom while an adult handles boiling water and borax solution. Students will use guidance from an experienced community partner and partner talks to evaluate their process, challenges, teamwork, and results. They will communicate evidence of crystal growth through an explanatory video and a before-and-after photo board featuring the finished crystal pipe cleaner.

Students will create a labeled scaffold plan showing how the pipe cleaner will stay suspended without touching the jar’s sides or bottom. Teams will keep a photo and observation log documenting setup conditions, challenges, collaboration, and crystal growth. They will produce a short video explaining the safe, teacher-supervised process and comparing before-and-after images. The final product will be a before-and-after photo board featuring the finished crystal-covered pipe cleaner as the centerpiece and key advice from the experienced community partner.

Begin with a safe live or recorded demonstration by the experienced community partner, with the teacher handling boiling water and borax while students observe how a pipe-cleaner shape stays suspended without touching the jar. Compare before-and-after samples and ask, “What conditions help crystals grow best when a pipe cleaner is placed in a borax solution?” Partners discuss what they notice, predict possible challenges, and identify ways to work together before the setup, then revisit their ideas afterward. Introduce the final before-and-after photo board with the crystal centerpiece and a short process video featuring photos, observations, successes, and challenges.

Host a crystal gallery walk where each team displays its before-and-after photo board with the finished crystal-covered pipe cleaner as the centerpiece. Students screen a short video explaining the process, how they suspended the scaffold without touching the jar, and which conditions helped crystals grow best. Before and after setting up the exhibit, partners discuss successes, challenges, and teamwork, then share one reflection with visitors. Invite the experienced community friend to attend, ask questions, and offer feedback on students’ methods and conclusions.