Abstract Taking crystal structure teaching as an example, guiding students to use VESTA software to build typical crystal unit cell models can greatly stimulate learning interest and reduce cognitive difficulty. Through the construction of unit cell models such as diamond, magnesium, copper, sodium chloride, fluorite, the rotation and observation of space-filling models, and the insertion of crystal planes and coordination polyhedrons, students can break through the difficulties such as atomic fraction coordinates, space utilization calculations, the insight of crystal voids, these are the specific teaching strategies supported by VESTA. In the process of experiencing real modeling, students deepen their understanding of prototypes, gain knowledge and happiness, and develop the chemistry discipline core literacy of evidence reasoning and model cognition.
