Materials chemistry is emerging as an interdisciplinary field that involves knowledge from diverse science and engineering research fields. The recent public attention and enthusiasm on nanoscience and nanotechnology not only underscores the importance of interdisciplinary research, but also highlights the promises of materials chemistry. The development of modern chemistry allows chemists to precisely control the three-dimension arrangement of many atoms for developing novel materials. In this laboratory course, we will discuss the development and applications of five kinds of materials and synthesize them using classical chemical reactions through modern techniques. The course is a combination of basic theoretical study, and hands on experimental practice, following with further discussions on modern applications and self-designed possible applications as the after class challenge. The course is designed to be accessible to students from a wide range of educational backgrounds.