Cornell University
Building a Compound Light Microscope
What better way to learn how to use a microscope than building your own? A lab investigation has scholars use lenses from magnifying glasses and sheets of cork to design their own compound microscopes. They calculate focal length...
Curated OER
18th Century Microscope
Young scholars examine a microscope from the 18th century. In this microscope lesson, students investigate how it works, what it was used for and how the tool has evolved through the years. Young scholars also build knowledge on how...
Baylor College
Tools of Magnification
Life science learners need to be able to use a microscope. With this comprehensive resource, they first experience how lenses and magnification work, and then get familiar with using a compound microscope. Tremendous background...
Curated OER
The Microscope
Students investigate the parts and functions of a compound microscope. They explore various websites, label the parts of a microscope on a worksheet, view prepared slides, and create drawings of the prepared slides.
Curated OER
How Can We Study the Differences in Animal and Plant Cells Using the Compound Microscope?
Students examine their cheek cells with a compound microscope. They identify different parts of the cell. They compare and contrast animal and plant cells with the microscope as well.
Curated OER
Using the Microscope
High schoolers demonstrate their ability to properly make observations using a compound microscope. They prepare an onion skin slide and focus on it in both low and high power. Then they measure the diameter of one of the cells.
CK-12 Foundation
Air Matters
What makes up the air we breathe? Young scientists explore the atoms and molecules in the air. An interactive lesson allows individuals to watch the movement of the particles in the air and change the makeup from a mixture to a...
Curated OER
Microscopes: Is what you see, what you got?
Eighth graders identify the parts and functions of the microscope. For this biology lesson, 8th graders observe different samples under different types of microscopes. They compare and contrast the details they see.
Curated OER
Understanding Cells
Learners identify and define several related vocabulary terms. Students complete a short lab and complete the questions. Learners create a cell crossword puzzle and play cell computer games through the included links.
Curated OER
Microscopes and Telescopes
Students analyze a microscope and study what they do. In this investigative instructional activity students study how microscopes were first invented, and how ray diagrams are used in conjunction.
Curated OER
Algae Part One: An Introduction
Students have the opportunity to view two types of algae under 400x magnification with a compound microscope. They make observations and record their observations through drawings and words. In addition, they identify different qualities...
Curated OER
Introduction to Biology
Students examine a microscope and learn its functions. In this microscope lesson students prepare a wet mount slide and complete calculations.
Curated OER
The Microscope
In this microscope lesson students explore the compound light microscope. Students discover techniques concerning cleaning, storage and proper use of the microscope. Students discover the working parts of the compound light microscope as...
Curated OER
Size and Shape
Students observe different substances under the microscope. In this space science instructional activity, students identify the different features of SEM images. They formulate a conclusion about the images of Mars meteorites.
Curated OER
Elegant Embryology
Students observe embryogenesis in action through early stages of development of eggs. They observe cultures with dissecting and compound microscopes. They draw their egg, record any details and observe for changes. They compare their...
Curated OER
Microscopy Exercises
Students explore organisms and botany by utilizing microscopes. In this microscopic research lesson, students define many plant and organism related vocabulary terms such as conifers, moss and spores. Students view spores and other...
Curated OER
Composting in Schools: Observing Compost Microorganisms
Students explore composting. In this composting instructional activity, students use compound microscopes to observe the microbial communities in compost. Observations and documentation of changes will occur over the course of several...
Curated OER
Are Fruits And Vegetables Really Made of Cells?
Pupils design and carry out an exercise to determine if a given fruit or vegetable is composed of cells. They dissect out sections of the fruit or vegetable, prepare stained slides, and make observations under a compound microscope.
Curated OER
Understanding Cell Division
Learners collect and describe cells from an onion root tip which are undergoing the stages of cell division. They use a ProScope USB microscope to identify and compare cells in five phases of mitosis.
Curated OER
Plankton / Phytoplankton
Students discuss the importance of plankton in the ocean ecosystem. In this biology lesson, students identify the different types plankton by observing them under the microscope. They explain how plankton population affect global climate.
Curated OER
Endosymbiosis: A Friend Within
Young scholars research the ecological principle of symbiosis. Using a microscope, students observe the relationship of mutualism between termites and flagellates. Young scholars examine a live termite and protozoans. They discuss the...
Curated OER
Connect the Species
Fourth graders, in pairs, explore energy transfer and species interrelationships by viewing slides on a microscope. hey explore phytoplankton (producers) and zooplankton (consumers)
Curated OER
How Organisms Respond to Changes in their Environment
Students observe the reaction of living cells to mechanical and chemical stimuli by introducing different stimuli to an organism under a microscope and recording the response.
Curated OER
Cells, The Structural and Functional Units of Life
Students observe the general structure and organelles of plant and animal cells. Students prepare microscope slides of elodea, onion, check, and cork and identify the cells by size and shape as unicellular, multicellular, plant or animal.