100 Things to Look at Under a Microscope
We bought our microscope for the boys a year or so ago and while I can't say we use it all the time I have found it's the perfect way to get them interested in some science when I'm having a day where I just don't have the time or the inclination to do an actual experiment with the boys.
There's something about looking at things through the lens of the microscope that make it seem magical.
When we purchased our microscope we bought a kit of prepared slides and have had fun looking at everything included in our kit.
However, there came a time when we had to branch out and experiment with other things to look at under the microscope. We bought some blank slides and have had a great time looking around trying to see what we can examine.
Once we started we quickly tried to think of ways to include anything and everything from around the house.
It's important to remember that the objects need to be fairly small, should be somewhat see through with light coming through them or easily sliced into thin segments. So far this is the list of item we want to look at through the lens of our microscope:
There's something about looking at things through the lens of the microscope that make it seem magical.
 |
| A cross section of a dog's stomach that came with our slide kit |
When we purchased our microscope we bought a kit of prepared slides and have had fun looking at everything included in our kit.
However, there came a time when we had to branch out and experiment with other things to look at under the microscope. We bought some blank slides and have had a great time looking around trying to see what we can examine.
Once we started we quickly tried to think of ways to include anything and everything from around the house.
It's important to remember that the objects need to be fairly small, should be somewhat see through with light coming through them or easily sliced into thin segments. So far this is the list of item we want to look at through the lens of our microscope:
- Water-- from the lake, from the faucet, from Alec's fish tank
- Sand-- from the yard and from the beach
- Salt & Pepper grains
- Parsley and other seasonings
- Sprinkles
- Glitter
- Sequins
- Ribbon/ yarn
- Sugar crystals
- Piece of pine cone
- Pine needle
- Inside of an acorn
- Apple slice
- Leaf-- we tried to look at all the different colors of leaves under the scope
- Bird seed
- Dollar Bill
- Human hair
- Thread
- Twine
- Carpet shavings/ samples
- Wood shaving
- Celery
- Lettuce
- Broccoli tops
- Carrots
- Potatoes
- Tomatoes
- Flower petals
- Insect wing or leg
- Spider web
- Feather
- Dust
- Dryer lint
- Fingernail clipping
- Skin cells from your cheek
- Tooth plaque
- Ear Wax (what can I say I have boys and they thought that would be cool to look at!)
- Onion or onion skin
- Moss
- Toadstool/ mushroom
- Algae (also from Alec's fish tank)
- Seaweed
- Teddy bear fur hairs
- Blood
- Chalk
- Maple Syrup
- Orange slice
- Pencil Shavings
- Plastic bag
- Paper-- white and colored; whole and ripped edges
- Newspaper
- Toilet paper
- Cotton ball
- Tissue paper
- Paper towels
- Ice crystals
- Play dough
- Sea shells
- Potting soil
- Soap-- liquid and a shard of bar soap
- Hard candy
- Sandwich meat
- Bread crumbs
- Mold spores (leave the bread out on the counter for a few days)
- Egg shells
- Banana slice
- Banana skin
- Flour
- Baking soda
- Toothpaste
- Dental floss
- Soda-- They wanted to try a few different flavors to compare
- A scab (again I have boys....)
- Pollen
- Brillo pad
- Velcro
- Our Fingerprints when inked onto tracing paper
- Skin cells (put a piece of tape on your skin; press down and pull back up then look at the tape under the microscope)
- Dandelion seeds or milkweed puffs
- Fireplace soot & ash
- Beeswax
- Gum stick (not chewed)
- Pet hair and dander
- Piece of pasta
- Slice of cork
- Peanut shell
- Butterfly or moth wing
- Gauze
- Toothbrush or broom bristles
- Pumpkin or squash seeds
- Orange juice with pulp
- Thin, light colored Lego piece
- Epson salt or sea salt crystals
- Seed beads
- A single grain of rice
- Strawberry with seeds
- Kiwi slice
- Shoelace
- Pom Poms
- Chenille stem
We need a microscope! What kind of homeschooled am I, that doesn't have a microscope?! :-)
ReplyDeleteLOL. I'm pretty sure there are many homeschoolers out there without a microscope; I just have three boys that would prefer to eat, sleep and breathe science so I tend to encourage that as much as humanly possible.
DeleteThis is a great idea. I think my kids would find this fascinating. Also sounds like a great rainy day activity.
ReplyDeleteYes, it would be great for rainy days!
DeleteThis looks like so much fun to do with children. That's a great list of 100 things to look at under a microscope. I like this idea and I might just have to do this with my nieces and nephews.
ReplyDelete-Nataile A.
Thanks! I hope they enjoy it.
Delete