- Divide the students into groups of 3 and hand each group an envelope with information on the project. (Each envelope contains all the necessary instructions.)
- Describe the material by mouth because kids will not like to read all of that info.
- Do a short demo of the process in which the crystals shall be made.
- Distribute the materials required (cup, water, salts, etc…)
- Let the kids make the crystals. Then have them construct with the gumdrops.
- Complete the activity by solving the crime mystery, with possible rewards for catching the correct culprit.

- What happens to the water?
As the water evaporates, the Epsom salts molecules move closer together and bond (link together), forming long, needle-shaped crystals (a solid material in which the molecules are arranged in a repeating pattern). The shape of the Epsom salts crystals reflects the arrangement of the molecules in the solid. The molecules are arranged like building blocks that lock together and, thus, the shape of the molecules determines the resulting shape of the crystal. The dried dish washing liquid provided a rough surface to which the different crystals can form more easily.

- Crystals don’t form – the proportions of the mixture are unequal, either too much or too little of something. In which case, have the kids use a pre-made solution that we know will work.
- Kids get bored or tired or decide that doing something else with the solutions is more fun. Try to maintain control of the class by keeping interest in the mystery aspect of this exercise. Hopefully that is enough to keep the kids engaged.

The kids will be able to tell how similar looking solids (both salts) are molecularly different and that this fact applies to many things in this world. With the gumdrop activity, the kids will be able to tell how different properties of atomic structure makes it more suitable for certain applications.