Lab: Virtual Tour of the Microscope

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Lesson Title: Virtual Tour of the Microscope

Grade/Age Level: Middle school grades 6-8 (age 11-14)

Subject Area: Life Science

Number of Classes for Lesson Completion: (1) 45-Minute Class Sessions

Lesson Description
Students will gain familiarity with the compound microscope by exploring an online virtual
microscope

Pennsylvania Standards for Science and Technology

The following Pennsylvania Standards will be addressed during the lesson

3.1.6.A8 Explain why the details of most cells are visible only through a
microscope

Instructional Objectives
o To be able to compare coarse and fine adjustments
o To be able to compare objects viewed under 10x, 100x, and 400x magnification
o To learn the proper sequence for focusing an object using a compound microscope

Instructional Procedures
o Lesson Set
1. Begin by reading over the introduction to the microscope
(http://edtech2.boisestate.edu/pattymcginnis/506/Cell_Site/506_microscope.html).
2. Optional: History Connection. Introduce Robert Hooke using
http://edtech2.boisestate.edu/pattymcginnis/506/Cell_Site/506_robert_hooke.html.
Show the timeline of the cell theory shown on
http://edtech2.boisestate.edu/pattymcginnis/506/Cell_Site/506_cell_theory.html.
Have students research one of the scientists shown on the timeline.
 Lab: Virtual Tour of the Microscope

3. Ask students to predict the teachers rationale for having students begin their
microscope studies by using an online microscope.
4. Have students select the link to the online microscope

o Techniques and Activities

Hand out student lab paper and instruct students to follow the directions on the paper.
Have students place a compound microscope near their work station so that they can refer
to its features as they progress through the online lesson.

o Lesson Closure
Ask students to predict how using a real compound microscope will vary from an online
microscope. On an exit ticket, have student list one thing they learned from the activity
and one thing that they are still confused about regarding microscopes.

Adaptations for Learners with Special Needs

Print out pictures of images at 10x, 100x, 400x so that students can easily see what the
Microscope image looks like. For students with vision problems, conduct the activity
using an interactive white board so that all images are enlarged.

Extension and Remediation Activities

o Extension
Have students conduct the try this challenge found on the online site to test their
microscope skills

o Remediation
Provide extended time for those students who need it.
Conduct the activity using an interactive white board so that all students can follow along
and benefit from teacher instruction

Assessment
o Students will conduct formative assessment in the form of checkpoints as they progress
through the online activity.
o Learners will be given a lab practical that measures their ability to properly focus a
compound microscope in less than 90 seconds. This assessment will occur after students
have had experience with an actual compound microscope.

Learner Products
o Lab activity will be collected and assessed for quality and accuracy of work (detailed and
labeled drawings)

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 Lab: Virtual Tour of the Microscope

Student Handout:

Virtual Tour of the Microscope

Begin by going to this website: http://www.udel.edu/biology/ketcham/microscope/scope.html

_____1. Make sure your volume is on then click Start Tour at the bottom right of the
Getting Started box.

_____2. When it asks you to select a slide begin with the green specimen- Onion Root Tip,
this is the easiest to see (2nd from top).

_____3. Click the Switch Objectives tutorial under the Getting Started box. LISTEN!

CHECKPOINT: Which lens does the tutorial tell you to start with? _______x

_____4. Follow the tutorial prompts to learn how to center the slide and focus your
specimen. HINT!!! Use the checklist box on the left side of the screen to monitor your
progress!

CHECKPOINT: Describe how the coarse and fine focus differ:

CHECKPOINT: What are you supposed to do with the coarse focus?

_____5. Once your specimen is in focus using the 4X lens, use the revolving nosepiece at the
bottom left of your screen to move the 10X lens into place. Use the fine focus to adjust.

CHECKPOINT:

What happens if you try to use the coarse adjustment when the 10X lens is in place?

CHECKPOINT: What happens to your image if you try to magnify it using 40x or 100x?

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 Lab: Virtual Tour of the Microscope

_____6. Draw the Onion Root Tip using 10x magnification in the appropriate circle on the
back of this paper.

_____7. Follow the same procedure for the bacterial capsules and cheek cells slides. Draw
the images using the total magnification shown under the circle

Specimen: Onion Root Tips Specimen: Bacterial Capsule

100 x Magnification 1000x Magnification

Specimen: Cheek Cells

400x Magnification

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 Lab: Virtual Tour of the Microscope

A quick review:

1. What objective lens you should have in place to begin to look at your specimen?
__________________________

2. True or False : You only use the course focus knob when you have the 4X scanning objective
in place._______________________

3. Assuming the light is on and the oculars are in place what are the next 2 steps?

4. If you need more light to view your specimen then you need to adjust the
__________________________________.

CHALLENGE! Click Try This to test your microscope skills! Do P1 through P6 to test your
microscope skills!

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