Looking for a lab to immerse students into the world of microscopy? Look no further!

I believe learning to use a microscope is like learning how to drive a car- you have to learn by doing. This laboratory guides students through the correct usage of the compound light microscope. The lab write-up is designed for students to work at their own pace and independently. The lab in its entirety takes about 1.5 hours to complete (depending on student level.

The instructions given are VERY specific. I barely give any instruction on the use of the microscope beforehand (only a few incredibly important rules- like "be careful with the glass slides.") I give students the materials, a lab handout, a microscope and say "good luck." The idea is that really the only way they will learn how to use the microscope is by following the instructions and figuring it out. Essentially, as along as the students follow the instructions they will finish being pros at using the microscopes.

The document is a Google Doc and is fully editable for you to adjust to your class needs.

The lab guides students through the essential parts- the lenses, diaphragm, light source etc. Students are then asked questions about magnification, resolution, and total magnification where they have to calculate magnification. Students then move onto preparing and staining a wet mount of onion tissue. Next, students use the microscope to focus on the stained onion tissue at high power. The instructions guide students through properly using the microscope i.e starting on scanning power/using the adjustment knobs/adjusting the diaphragm/moving the stage etc. Students are then asked to draw the specimen on high power following a very specific set of rules i.e including total magnification and title, drawing accurately and not "approximately," drawing in pencil first etc. The next two parts of the lab guide students through viewing the "letter e" to see the optics of the lenses (the e gets flipped upside down) as well as crossed threads (to visualize depth of field). The end of the lab guides students through the correct procedure of putting the microscope away.

There is an extension section for early finishers to view the "fun slides." I keep interesting slides handy like insects, planaria, elodea, hair etc. for students to view for the extension.

Materials Needed:

• Compound Light Microscope
• Microscope Slides
• Cover Slides
• Colored Pencils
• Onion
• Iodine
• Crossed thread Slides
• Letter e Slides
• "Fun" slides

Included:

• 5 page lab handout with detailed step-by-step instructions, embedded questions, and drawing space
• Answer Key
• 2 slide Google Slide presentation I project on the board while students complete the lab. Includes sample microscope drawing (one good example and one poor example) and 5 important reminders about using the microscope.