A cost-effective, hands-on laboratory exercise is described for demonstrating nanoscale fabrication at non-research-based educational institutions. The laboratory exercise also contains a component involving qualitative and quantitative surface characterization of student-fabricated nanoscale structures at institutions with on-site access to an atomic force microscope or access via another facility. The applicability of this laboratory exercise was demonstrated in a nanotechnology instrumentation course. (Contains 7 figures and 1 scheme.)