Transcript
ASSET Microscopes Microscope Orientation – Elementary School Instructions:
If you are working with students who are inexperienced using microscopes, this short activity may help them to learn microscope anatomy. Below are names and short descriptions of each of the parts of the ASSET Microscopes. To prep this activity, have the microscopes spread out around the room, with enough space for students to work at them in groups of two or three. Make as many copies of the third page as you have microscopes. Cut the pages into eight strips, each containing the name and description of a part. Apply a piece of tape to each of the cut-outs and stick the pieces of paper on the table next to the microscope. Working with their lab partner(s), ask them to match the piece of paper with the part/function to the corresponding part of the microscope. Attach the piece of paper directly to the microscope. Students should carefully read the part and the function that it provides on the microscope. The teacher should circulate around the room as students complete the task and make sure groups have correctly matched the pieces of paper to the microscope. Once students have completed the matching, they should remove the labels and reattach them to the table next to the microscope. A picture of an ASSET Microscope is provided for you to check students’ answers. Engage the class in a short conversation about how to properly use a microscope. • To keep them clean, avoid touching the eyepiece or objectives on a microscope • The adjustment knobs should always be turned slowly and NEVER forced. • Users should always start with the lowest objective. • When changing objectives, watch from the side to make sure the new lens doesn’t hit the slide. • When using a high power objective, be careful when using the adjustment knobs as they can lower the lens enough to crack the slide and damage the lens. • Always handle the microscope with caution. Use two hands to lift and carry it. • Remove all slides when you are done using the microscope and turn the objectives to the lowest power. Move the stage to the center. • Cover the microscope with a bag to minimize dust.
Except where otherwise noted, this work is licensed under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
Troubleshooting – the fine focus knob won’t turn any more Here’s what’s happened: • Each time the scope was used, the student turned the fine focus knob the same way – eventually it won’t go any farther in that direction. (But it will still turn in the other direction.) You just need to get it centered again. The solution: • Put a slide under the 10x objective and focus up and down with the coarse knob. Notice how the object is blurry, then clear, then blurry again? You’ve just gone from a focal point above the object to a focal point above the slide (or vice versa). • Now use the coarse knob to focus down to a point below the slide (very blurry again). Try using the fine knob to focus. • If the fine knob works, keep turning it until you’ve gone all the way up through the focused image and back to very blurry. • If the fine knob didn’t work, use the coarse knob to go to a point above the slide and then use the fine knob to go down through the focused image and back to blurry. (Same thing in reverse.)
Except where otherwise noted, this work is licensed under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
***CUT OUT THE FOLLOWING AND APPLY TAPE TO EACH*** ______________________________________________________________________________________________________
ARM
This is where you hold the microscope with two hands when you are moving it
EYE PIECE
This is where you look to find what is under the microscope.
OBJECTIVES
You turn these to make what you are looking at bigger or smaller. When it’s bigger, you can see more detail. There are 3 powers. We will mostly be using the 2 lowest powers, 4x and 10x. What do you think the x means?
STAGE
This is where you place your microscope slides. (Use the stage clip, if it has one, to make sure the slide does not move around.)
Fluorescent Light
This is how light is brought into the microscope. Be careful, it can get warm. There’s a green switch near the power cord to turn it on.
Big Knob (Course Adjustment Knob)
This is what you will use to move the slide up or down to focus what you are looking at. Use this knob until the object is almost focused. ALWAYS be very gentle with adjustment knobs and NEVER force the knob past its stopping point.
Small Knob (Fine Adjustment Knob)
This is used to help bring things into sharp focus. It’s very helpful with the higher power objectives. ALWAYS be very gentle with adjustment knobs and NEVER force the knob past its stopping point.
Stage Adjustment This is where you move the slide to get your sample to a place where you can see it. Don’t move this too quickly or you might not see anything.
Except where otherwise noted, this work is licensed under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
