HOW TO MAKE CRYSTALS FROM ALUM POWDER

• Pour 1/2 cup of hot tap water into a clean jar.
• Slowly stir in alum, a little at a time, until it stops dissolving.
• Loosely cover the jar and allow the jar to sit undisturbed overnight.
• The next day, pour the alum solution from the first jar into the clean jar. You will see small alum crystals at the bottom of the jar. These are 'seed' crystals that you will use to grow a big crystal.
• Tie nylon fishing line around the largest, best-shaped crystal. Tie the other end to a flat object (e.g., Popsicle stick, ruler, pencil, butter knife). You will hang the seed crystal by this flat object into the jar far enough so that it will be covered in liquid, but won't touch the bottom or sides of the jar. It may take a few tries to get the length just right.
• When you have the right string length, hang the seed crystal in the jar with the alum solution. Cover it with the coffee filter and grow a crystal!
• Grow your crystal until you are satisfied with its size.