Teach the class how to use a microscope to identify bacteria in food. Scholars explore the different parts of the microscope and learn how to determine total magnification. They walk step-by-step through the procedure of preparing slides and viewing them under different magnifications, including an oil-immersion lens. At the end of the lab, they must also walk through the clean up process.

Concepts

microbiology, microscopes, bacteria, controlled experiments, experimental design, microbes, food safety, food science, food storage, food preservation

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Additional Tags

science

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Instructional Ideas

• Practice using the different parts of a microscope before having pupils use microscopes in class
• Use as a flipped classroom activity to introduce the parts of a microscope

Classroom Considerations

• Suggests the lab follows Bacteria Sampling and Gram Staining virtual labs, as it references the Gram Staining lab throughout

Pros

• Provides opportunity to experience a lab when resources may not be available otherwise
• Includes a thinking question to interpret the results

Cons

• None

Common Core

RST.9-10.3 RST.11-12.3