I’ve written before about why we love the library. One reason I cited is because they have many items other than books that can be checked out. When we were exploring our new library, we discovered a stereo microscope that can be borrowed by patrons.
We eagerly checked it out and my girls have been observing the finer details of many objects. Here are some of the things they’ve viewed (and a few things they hope to view before we return it).
Stereo vs compound microscopes
Before I share the list, I want to explore the differences between stereo microscopes and compound microscopes. The two are similar in many ways. Both are optical microscopes, which means they use visible light. Compound microscopes typically use transmitted light (light that has passed through an object) to reveal variances in translucency. Stereo microscopes, on the other hand, typically rely on reflected light (light that bounces off the surface of an object). This means that the latter is better for viewing opaque objects and large objects that can’t be sliced into thin strips. However, the former is better for viewing liquids and objects that are so small that they can’t be seen with the naked eye. Both types of microscopes magnify objects, though the degree of magnification is different. In general, stereo microscopes offer resolution power where the magnification ranges from 6x to 50x. Compound microscopes offer resolution power where the magnification ranges from 40x to 1,000x.
Both are awesome tools for students who are interested in science (or students you hope to inspire to become interested in science). Thankfully, reasonably priced stereo microscopes and compound microscopes designed specifically for students are available.
Things to view under a stereo microscope
- Adhesive tapes (if possible, compare different types such as duct tape, masking tape, and clear packing tape)
- Algae
- Baked goods (if possible, compare different types)
- Bark
- Bird seed
- Bread mold
- Brushes (if possible, compare different types including paint brushes, toothbrushes, etc.)
- Cardboard
- Coffee grounds
- Coins
- Cork
- Cotton balls
- Crackers (if possible, compare different types)
- Diatomaceous earth
- Dryer lint
- Dust
- Fabric (if possible, compare different types)
- Feathers (if possible, compare different types)
- Fingernail clippings
- Flour (if possible, compare different types)
- Flowers (pay special attention to different parts such as petals, sepals, stamens, etc.)
- Fur from various animals
- Grass
- Human hair (if possible, compare hair of different colors and textures)
- Insects (pay special attention to details of wings, antennae, and legs)
- Leaves (if possible, compare different types)
- Moss
- Oats
- Onion skin
- Paper (if possible, compare different types)
- Pencil shavings
- Pine needles
- Pinecones
- Pollen (if possible, compare different types)
- Potting soil
- Rocks
- Rope or string (if possible, compare different types)
- Rubber bands
- Rust
- Salt (if possible, compare different types)
- Sand (if possible, compare sand from different beaches)
- Scales of fish
- Screws
- Seaweed
- Seeds (if possible, compare different types)
- Snowflakes (in order to keep these frozen, chill a small, flat dish to hold the snowflakes and use the microscope outside)
- Spider webs
- Sprinkles
- Styrofoam
- Sugar
- Tissue or piece of toilet paper
- Vegetable and fruit pieces
- Wool
- Writing on paper (if possible, compare writing from an ink pen, pencil, crayon, etc.)
- Yeast
Final thoughts
Some of these items (such as rocks, insects, and flowers) relate directly to topics my kids are learning about in school. However, others (such as coins, sprinkles, and screws) are just random items that are fun to view. There is great value in looking at both types of items because both foster curiosity.
What interesting items have you viewed under a microscope?
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