Learning How to Use a Microscope as an Intro to Biology for our Homeschooling
As part of our Intro to Biology Block for seventh grade, we are doing quite a bit of work with the microscope. One of the labs was learning about the microscope and viewing various things that we collected under the microscope. I thought I’d take you along that lab with us. The microscope that we are using here is my iOptron ST-80 Digital Microscope. I love my microscope, but if you are looking for a microscope, I suggest that you check out my blog: Choosing a Microscope for you Homeschool. It has details of aspects you can consider when choosing one. Most of the supplies I used in this lab are from HomeScience Tools, and I’ve included the list at the bottom of the blog near the video.
In this post you’ll find
Parts of a Microscope
Below is a diagram from HomeScience Tools with the various parts of the microscope. This may help you understand the video a little more. I go over all the parts in the video as well and in the blog post mentioned above about choosing a microscope.
Focusing a Microscope
There are a few things when using a compound microscope that will make it use easier. One is understanding the light source. Most have a bottom light source that is useful for looking through thin semi-transparent specimens. The bottom light intensity can be adjusted with either the Iris diaphragm just below the stage which has a variety of different size wholes for the light to travel through. However, on some microscopes such as mine, you’ll also have the option of controlling the light brightness with a dial at the bottom of the microscope.
In addition to the bottom light, I find that a top light source is sometimes more useful, especially in this lab when we are looking at more 3D objects that are not translucent. Our top light source is a light pen. If you do not have a top light source available with your microscope, you can create one with a desk light or some sort of directed light from the top of the object you are viewing. Play with the lighting go see which gives you the best view for what you are viewing.
When we are viewing an object under the microscope, we start at the bottom level of magnification and work our way up to higher levels of magnification. That helps us to keep the object we want to see centered and helps us to focus easier. In using a microscope, these are the basic steps to focusing a microscope.
- Place the slide on the stage, centering you specimen below the objective lens.
- If not done so already, change the objective lens to the lowest level of magnification.
- Use the knobs to bring the object into view. This is either a 2-step with the course knob first and then the fine knob or in a microscope such as mine, just using the one knob to bring the object into view.
- Bring the area that you would like to see in the next level of magnification in the center of your viewing circle.
- Change the objective lens to the next level of magnification.
- Carefully readjust the scope, bringing the object into focus again.
The last level of magnification is an oil immersion which requires a special oil in order to use. I’m going to save that for another post.
Images from our Lab
(click for an enlarged view)
Supplies
(images hyperlinked; click the image to learn more.)
Book We’re Using
(images hyperlinked; click image to learn more.)
Video
Related Blog: Choosing a Microscope for your Homeschool
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