Microscopy: Exploring the world of the small
Microscopy: Exploring the world of the small.
Name ____________________________________- Date_________________
Microscopy: Exploring the world of the small
Aims:
- Use the compound microscope and / or the universal clip-type LED Cellphone Microscope. to explore your world.
- Use a cell phone to take pictures of what you are studying or make drawings of your own and label them.
Materials:
PPE
1 lab coat
1 pair of gloves
Compound light microscope (if you were able to pick one up)
Universal clip-type LED Cellphone Microscope (General Purpose Bag)
Cell phone camera optional
Bag Microscopy
Plastic slides (can be reused by careful washing)
Plastic coverslips (can be reused with careful washing)
Lactophenol cotton blue to stain fungi
Methylene blue to stain cells
Dropper
Alcohol wipes
Lens paper
1 sterile dropper (in General Purpose Bag)
Sterile loops (to sample environment)
Student supplied
-tap water
-scissors
– items to look at under the microscope suggestions include:
Letters in print, crossed threads, hair, pond water, onion skin (just super thin clear), mold on plant leaves (looks black), Spanish moss, insect wings, flower pollen, spider web (be careful collecting it), fabrics, a coin, velcro., salt Do not take a sample of blood as there are too many dangers involved.
Begin to collect the items you choose before lab class ZOOM day.
Methods
Select your specimens for microscopic examination. These specimens will be used to make slides, practice use of both microscope sand finally take photographs or make drawings
Prepare your slides:. Avoid human material except for the hair as it could pose health dangers.
List of possible specimens
- A printed letter: Cut or tear out a letter e or any one from print material. Use a dropper to put a tiny drop of water on the slide. Place the letter in the middle of the slide. Apply the coverslip by first adding it at a 45degree angle to the slide along the edge of the drop. Lower the coverslip into place. This is called a wet mount.
- Mold from a leaf: You can use the sterile loop to scrape the black stuff off of a leaf and make a wet mount with it.
- Pollen: Use a sterile loop to collect pollen from a flower and then make a wet mount. Avoid this one if you are allergic.
- Insect wing: An insect wing can be put on the slide dry and covered with a coverslip.
- Crossed threads: cut 3 pieces of different color threads and place them crisscross on the slide. Cover with coverslip.
- Hair: Cut a strand of hair, place on the slide, and cover with a coverslip.
- Onion cell skin: Pull the very thin outer membrane of onion skin. Stain it with a tiny drop of methylene blue. Be careful with stain as it can stain clothes. Use a dropper to add a drop of water to a slide and cover with a coverslip.
- Elodea: Elodea is a plant found in many aquaria. Place one leaflet and add that drop of methylene blue and coverslip to make a wet mount.
- Feather: place a feather on a slide, Add a coverslip
- Spanish moss: Place a small piece of Spanish moss on a slide, add a drop of methylene blue and then a coverslip.
- Please check with me if you are not sure of the safety of your choice. In general do not try to use your microscope to investigate bodily fluids. That is a health issue and not safely done at home. Avoid human materials other than the hair.
Use a compound microscope
You may follow the procedure as stated in your lab manual Biology in the Lab ch 3
To help you recall, I have included this list of steps in using a compound microscope
| How to Use Your Compound Microscope |
to work. Plugthe microscope’s power cord into an outlet.
allowing the greatest amount of light through. If you have an iris diaphragm, slide the lever till the most light comes through. Rotate the nosepiece to the lowest-power objective usually 4x for 40x magnification). It is easiest to scan a slide at a low setting, since you have a wider field of view at low power.
if your microscope has one. Place a strand of colored yarn or thread on a blank slide and place a coverslip over it.) Move the slide until the specimen is under the objective lens.
the specimen under the lens, if necessary. Do this by nudging it gently with your fingers or by turning the slide control knobs if you have a mechanical stage.
best lighting. Start with the most light and gradually lessen it until the specimen image has clear, sharp contrast.
Then center the part of the specimen you want to view at higher power.
carefully. Adjust the lighting again until the image is most clear (you will need more light for higher power). Repeat with the 40x objective for 400x magnification. |
From Home Science Tools https://learning-center.homesciencetools.com/article/how-to-use-a-microscope-science-lesson/
Results: 8 photographs or drawings of specimens observed with a microscope. Label name of specimen, magnification, type of microscope used.
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Discussion: What did you learn from this experience. What went right? What went wrong? What is the value of knowing how to use a microscope?
Microscopy: Exploring the world of the small.
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