Microscopic Fiber Analysis lab for remote lessons, absent students, or for students that take a little extra time to complete assignments!  Microscopic fiber analysis is an easy and fun lab that every Forensic Science teacher can do. All you need are microscopes and fibers, which are easy to get for free (or very cheaply)!  BUT - What if you are teaching remotely right now?  Or what if you have many students absent?  Or students don’t finish during class time?  Or maybe you can't access microscopes? This Fiber Microscope Library can help with all of that!  

This product is Google SlidesTM slideshow with microscopic photos of fibers at low, medium and high magnification.  It also includes photos of 3 different unknown fibers.  Students use their drawings and descriptions of the known fibers to determine what these three unknowns are.  The last unknown is a blend, for extra challenge!

Students can draw the fibers in their lab book or in my Microscope Fiber Booklet.

Student instructions are included for both of these options.  Last year when I was teaching remotely, I didn’t have a way to get my booklets to students.  It was easier to just have them do the drawings in their lab books.

This product includes:

• Microscope Fiber Library Google SlidesTM with photos of fibers at low, medium, and high power magnification.
• Pdf version of Microscope Fiber Library

• Instruction slides to show students how to set up their notebooks for their drawings (if not using the booklet) (Google SlidesTM force copy link)
• pdf version of instruction slides

Note: if you purchase the Booklet Version or the bundle, booklet instructions are included with those products.

• What should cotton look like? Check in slides to help students evaluate their first drawing before moving on. (Google SlidesTM force copy link
• pdf version of What should cotton look like? Check in slides

• Appearance of Individual Strand KEY for teacher use
• Answer key for unknown fibers for teacher use

If you are also doing microscope fiber analysis in person, see my website for how to get fibers for free (or very cheaply): https://sites.google.com/view/scene-of-the-crime-forensic/forensic-science-units/trace-evidence-unit

The fibers included in this library are:

Cotton (natural - from a plant)

Linen (natural- from a plant)

Hemp (natural -from a plant)

Silk (natural -from an insect)

Wool (natural -from an animal - mammal)

Angora (natural -from an animal - mammal)

Mohair (natural -from an animal - mammal)

Polyester (man-made- synthetic)

Acrylic (man-made -synthetic)

Nylon (man-made - synthetic)

Modal (man-made - regenerated -from wood chips)

Rayon (man-made - regenerated -from wood chips)

Unknown 1- students use the evidence to determine the fiber

Unknown 2- students use the evidence to determine the fiber 

Unknown 3 - students use the evidence to determine the fiber

An answer key for the 3 unknowns is included.