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Is a microscope really necessary?


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I'm asking on this board because I think you all would have a better idea as to whether this is absolutely necessary or not.

 

I will be teaching Life Science this year to 6th & 7th grade dss using PH Science Explorer. In your opinion, is it really necessary, as opposed to really fun category, to have a scope available for use in experiments. Would utilizing pictures on the net suffice or will they miss out on a lot by not having one? Is this an item that gets used frequently or just a couple of times. And, even if it only gets used a couple of times, do those times warrant getting one?

 

I would love to buy one, but things are a little tight right now and can think of other material to spend the money on if having one is not crucial. Granted the other materials aren't absolutely necessary either.

 

Also, if you have purchased one, what would be a good one to buy?

 

TIA

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I am teaching Life Science from PH Science Explorer to 6th graders. A parent in our school gifted me 6 microscopes during the second half of the year, and I have already developed about 20 experiments to use with them next year. But it's more a case of "I have these terrific tools; how can I use them?"

 

Honestly, I did the course just fine with only a USB Microscope to use for the class to view on the overhead, but I think it's great if you can get kids looking at cellular life.

 

One of my 6th graders last year won honorable mention at the state level (after winning local and regional fairs) with her research on salmonella...and she did it without a microscope! She built her own incubator, and grew cultures large enough to view without one. :)

 

I think if it's a choice between a microscope and a dissection kit, I'd go for the kit. My 6th graders learned SO MUCH from their dissection series. I am ordering more specimens this year, so that each child can have their own set of tools and specimen to study. (We did a lot of team work last year.)

 

You will definitely want a microscope for high school biology, but 6th-7th grades can do without if need be. Check your local library, however; ours has a microscope in the resource lab!

 

Lori

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I buy my microscopes from Home Science Tools. Last month they ran a 15% off and flat rate shipping of $5. I'd get on their mailing list and watch for a sale. Supposedly they don't run 15% off often but generally run 10% off. I'd check as people are ordering now for the fall so I think more sales will be coming. THey also run a sale around CHristmas.

 

We are a science family so we own both a compound microscope and a stereomicroscope. While I think pictures are OK, there is something magical in getting pond water and seeing the microbes move around in the tiniest drop of water and the kids can experience the differences in magnification first hand.

 

Not trying to sway you either direction...just my experience.

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If you spot one on ebay, the intelplay microscope works nicely for pond micro-organisms. It has 10x, 60x, and 100x settings, but the 100x doesn't focus well at all. The intelplay microscope is generally pretty cheap (several on buy it now on ebay for $25-35). You can find a patch online to make it work with XP, but I don't think it will work with Vista.

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We bought an oil immersion microscope when my older boys took hs biology. We bought a stereo microscope at the same time for the youngers. We got it at Home Science Tools.

 

I justified it because I could use it for all the kids when they took biology. If you were talking about only using it for this one year, then I don't know. If it was something you were going to use for a long time, then I would buy one.

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We own this really cool old microscope that DS's gramma got him. It is one of those ancient metal things w/ no bells or whistles. I got him some prepared slides to look at, and he thought they were cool.

 

However.

 

DS finished an entire year of Biology using a college level text, and not once did he need a microscope for lab work. There were simply lots of other labs to do, and much cooler images (electron microscopy, for example) available on the web.

 

So... is it a cool tool? Yes. Is it absolutely necessary? I would say no. The only requirement I have ever seen is that a kid knows the parts of a microscope and how it works.

 

 

a

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I forgot to mention earlier that if you have a Harbor Freight Tools in your area (and if you don't know what that is, or have never been there, you don't know what you are missing!), they have loads of magnification equipment, including double lens mags (like jeweler's loops) that clip to your shirt (invaluable for me in the classroom), and hand magnifying lenses CHEAP. Most of the labs we did were aided beautifully by a 10X or 20X lens.

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Could you borrow a microscope for a special lesson or two? I would say that for 6th and 7th graders the microscope is not crucial. There are websites that will suffice for this level. Generally it is recommended to have one microscope for every two students (so the students can really learn how to use it), and that can get very pricey.

 

Last summer I purchased a microscope for my 9th grade daughter. It has been one of the best investments I have made. We got the most recommended one from Home Science Tools.

 

Here's a website that has clips that I certainly could not duplicate with our microscope: http://multimedia.mcb.harvard.edu/

 

Grace

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I was very glad to have one when I did RS4K biology with the boys. Really seeing moving beasties that were actually on the slide that they had prepared was, I believe, a much better learning experience than watching a video. We have a Sonlight microscope.

 

Laura

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Thanks everyone for your opinions and information, it has been a great help.

 

I have been thinking it over and have decided to go ahead get one. I really think it will prove useful, even if it doesn't get used that often. I think the deciding factor was that, in addition to a regular life science class, I am wanting to do nature study this year with dss. So, in addition to all the interesting things they will be able to see in science with the aid of a microscope, I am hoping we can give new meaning to the term "nature study".

 

Thanks again.

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Thanks everyone for your opinions and information, it has been a great help.

 

I have been thinking it over and have decided to go ahead get one. I really think it will prove useful, even if it doesn't get used that often. I think the deciding factor was that, in addition to a regular life science class, I am wanting to do nature study this year with dss. So, in addition to all the interesting things they will be able to see in science with the aid of a microscope, I am hoping we can give new meaning to the term "nature study".

 

Thanks again.

 

I ran up to the school today, and brought home a great microscope book I bought at B&N earlier this semester: The Ultimate Guide to Your Microscope (Levine & Johnstone), ISBN: 1-4027-4329-7. It's a terrific resource, and was only $10.

 

 

While I was at the school, three of my students (who are there for soccer camp) came rushing in with a terrific specimen for my insect collection! It was a Unicorn Beetle, and over 2" with lovely markings, in perfect condition. I think nature study is a perfect fit for this age student, and they love to know that you enjoy it too. They were so cute, "Mrs. MILLSAP, we are SOOO glad you are here! LOOK WHAT WE FOUND!!! Isn't it amazing!?"

 

Lori

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I ran up to the school today, and brought home a great microscope book I bought at B&N earlier this semester: The Ultimate Guide to Your Microscope (Levine & Johnstone), ISBN: 1-4027-4329-7. It's a terrific resource, and was only $10.

 

 

While I was at the school, three of my students (who are there for soccer camp) came rushing in with a terrific specimen for my insect collection! It was a Unicorn Beetle, and over 2" with lovely markings, in perfect condition. I think nature study is a perfect fit for this age student, and they love to know that you enjoy it too. They were so cute, "Mrs. MILLSAP, we are SOOO glad you are here! LOOK WHAT WE FOUND!!! Isn't it amazing!?"

 

Lori

 

Thanks for the book suggestion, I'll have to check it out. Also, thanks for the Habor Freight tip. I looked on line and the closest one is about 50 min away, but I did notice that you can order on line.:)

 

I'm really looking forward to studying science with them and hoping that we really can manage to bring more of the outdoors into it. The biggest problem I see is because of where we live, there are just so many opportunities to be outside exploring and investigating that we may not get to the other things. Discipline, discipline.

 

I have the TE and Teacher Express for the PH Life Science book and some of the experiments in them look interesting. I also picked up The Science of Life: Projects and Principles for Beginning Biologists, by Frank Bottone which looks interesting and I hope will be fun. If you've come up with any experiments that just can't be missed I'd love to hear about them, if you're willing to share.

 

Thanks again for all the suggestions.

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I forgot to mention earlier that if you have a Harbor Freight Tools in your area (and if you don't know what that is, or have never been there, you don't know what you are missing!), they have loads of magnification equipment, including double lens mags (like jeweler's loops) that clip to your shirt (invaluable for me in the classroom), and hand magnifying lenses CHEAP. Most of the labs we did were aided beautifully by a 10X or 20X lens.

 

Thanks for the tip. I found out there is one a couple of towns over. I can't wait to go in store and check it out.

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...

 

I have been thinking it over and have decided to go ahead get one. I really think it will prove useful, even if it doesn't get used that often. I think the deciding factor was that, in addition to a regular life science class, I am wanting to do nature study this year with dss. So, in addition to all the interesting things they will be able to see in science with the aid of a microscope, I am hoping we can give new meaning to the term "nature study".

 

 

I've often thought that a wonderful way of doing nature study would be to incorporate this book, The Private Eye - (5X) Looking / Thinking by Analogy, which involves studies using a jeweler's loupe.

 

Regards,

Kareni

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I've often thought that a wonderful way of doing nature study would be to incorporate this book, The Private Eye - (5X) Looking / Thinking by Analogy, which involves studies using a jeweler's loupe.

 

Regards,

Kareni

 

That site looks wonderful! Have you bought the book or seen it in person? I bought myself a loupe (again, because it's just so convenient to have clipped to my blouse as I move around the classroom), but I think I'd enjoy a "half set" of 18 in my classroom in addition to other hand glass I use.

 

Thanks! I bookmarked it for spending money later. :)

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That site looks wonderful! Have you bought the book or seen it in person? I bought myself a loupe (again, because it's just so convenient to have clipped to my blouse as I move around the classroom), but I think I'd enjoy a "half set" of 18 in my classroom in addition to other hand glass I use.

 

Thanks! I bookmarked it for spending money later. :)

 

Always happy to help someone else spend their money!

 

Yes, I have seen the book. In fact, I took copious notes but somehow never found the time to implement the ideas in the book. Perhaps if we'd had a few more hours in the day .... The book has a lot of meat, and there certainly seem to be a lot of teacher helps, etc., at the website.

 

Regards,

Kareni

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That site looks wonderful! Have you bought the book or seen it in person? I bought myself a loupe (again, because it's just so convenient to have clipped to my blouse as I move around the classroom), but I think I'd enjoy a "half set" of 18 in my classroom in addition to other hand glass I use.

 

Thanks! I bookmarked it for spending money later. :)

 

I bought this at a UCS. I really like how they stress science LITERACY as opposed to regurgitating facts ;)

 

This is going to be our Big Year for Science.

We're investing in a microscope [co-op], a Brock Magiscope [creek in our backyard], and a set of loupes [5 kids]. Extra dissection specimens/kits too.

 

I'll need to check on that microscope book....

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I bought this at a UCS. I really like how they stress science LITERACY as opposed to regurgitating facts ;)

 

 

What a novel idea, stressing literacy over facts.;) This, I like.

 

So you think this is appropriate for the 7th grade level? I can't remember the ages of your kids and the reviews mention younger kiddos, even though the description states K-adult?

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I've often thought that a wonderful way of doing nature study would be to incorporate this book, The Private Eye - (5X) Looking / Thinking by Analogy, which involves studies using a jeweler's loupe.

 

Regards,

Kareni

 

And the "to buy" list just gets longer and longer.:)

 

On the plus side, Amazon has this so you can save on shipping fees. Of course they don't have a 5x loupe. That's ok though, it just gives me an excuse to stop in at Harbor Freight when I go to the NoVa conference next month.;)

 

Thanks for posting this.

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Yeah, Peggy, didn't you start this thread to save money??? :)

 

Now, not only do you have a microscope, but a couple of new books, and some additional glass to buy! And you've suckered me into buying a bunch more stuff as well. GRIN.

 

(Seriously, thanks a lot! This looks like a great resource.)

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Yeah, Peggy, didn't you start this thread to save money??? :)

 

Now, not only do you have a microscope, but a couple of new books, and some additional glass to buy!

 

:lol:What can I say.

 

You are correct, I did start out trying to save money, but in case I haven't mentioned it before, I can justify the heck out of just about anything. Which of course includes buying curriculum.;) Actually I am saving money, because I guarantee these things will cost a whole lot less than the $24K I'd spend sending dss to private school.

 

 

And you've suckered me into buying a bunch more stuff as well. GRIN.

 

 

What can I say, I'm good at instigating too.;)

 

 

(Seriously, thanks a lot! This looks like a great resource.)

 

 

Thank you! :)

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Peggy (and everyone else!):

 

I started a blog for my science classroom, and posted a picture of the Unicorn beetle my students found:

 

http://ccscreationexploration.blogspot.com/2009/06/unicorn-beetle-on-ccs-playground.html

 

Enjoy! :)

 

How cool! I showed dss and the first thing they said was."Ooohh, is that it's real size? How big is it in real life?" So of course we had to look it up.

 

I just have one question, do those thing migrate? Because you're really not that far away from me and I still have gotten used to the size of the garden spiders here.;)

 

Great start! I'll have to mark your blog so we can see the other beasties you and your kids discover. Keep up the good work.:)

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