Testing out my Microscope

When we were in England for our summer holidays, we bought a lovely microscope set from an antique store.

It's still got all its parts and accessories and it works perfectly.

We have been meaning to have a look at it but been quite busy with other things.

So today was our chance.

It was the first day back at school on our island, so after my little sister was off to school we thought about what we were going to do for my first official homeschool day.

We had already started some work earlier this week but today is the first official day.

First off: NO UNIFORM. Yippeeee! I chose an outrageous outfit with a fantasy hat and striped extra long socks. It made me feel very creative. I worn bright magenta eye shadow and lime green lipstick. It was wild. The three of us (my mom, my dad and I) went roller skating before we started and practiced some ball skills at the netball court.

Then we came home to start on my quill! All of a sudden an unexpected happened, talk about having an adult closeby for safety. Well my mom was experimenting with the quill tip on a test quill and she was using my pokey thing from my microscope set and it slide through the quill tip in a jolt....

So then we had a unexpected sample for my microscope. It was very interesting once it was safely under the slide and I could see the cell wall and the nucleus and everything.



We also looked a couple of other things like a hair strand, and insect wing and nylon, silk, cotton and wool samples.

Obviously this was unplanned and an interruption for my quill making but we also looked up about cells on the internet and I saw some very interesting pictures of cells. The best beginnner cells to look at are onion cells so when we do our proper lesson thats what we will do.

Source: http://waynesword.palomar.edu

These are the parts of a plant cell:


Source: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/labeled-plant-cell-diagram-and-functions.html


Image Source: http://www.enchantedlearning.com.htm

You can stain cells with iodine to make it easier to see the cell parts. My microscope has a colour dial under the slide mounting which lets you view under red or blue or yellow or green etc light and it helps with different cells.

At least we know my microscope works nicely and I got a brief introductionto its parts and how to focus. I also learnt that there are different magnifications. Eyelashes do get in the way though :)

Parts & Acessories

Source: http://waynesword.palomar.edu

- Glass Slides and slide covers (Fragile)
- Tweezers
- Blade
- Sharp pokey thing :)
- Other pokey things
- Container bottles and dish with cover





Other links
This is a website that explains a lot about cells: http://waynesword.palomar.edu/lmexer1.htm

Good image of onion cells stained with blue: http://bwssls.wordpress.com/2009/02/09/onion-cells-as-seen-under-the-light-microscope/