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microscope curriculum for 5th


workingmom
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Ds who'll be in 5th next year really wants to study with a microscope. So we're buying a decent one in a few months and I need a really well written biology/microscope centered curriculum. It can be pre-prepared slides but I want some text to go with it. Maybe having ds move the slide around to locate various things or examine and question about details of structures.

 

Suggestions please

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This is a good book that we've used:

 

http://www.overstock.com/Books-Movies-Music-Games/The-Usborne-Complete-Book-of-the-Microscope-Paperback/2205475/product.html

 

We duplicate slides of some of the things they look at up close in the book and look for ourselves.

 

This is the newer, internet linked version of the book.

 

Or I actually have this version:

 

http://www.amazon.com/Usborne-Complete-Book-Microscope-Books/dp/0746031068

 

I feel sure content is similar save for the internet links....

 

We have a microscope kit from Carolina Biological that I got years ago. It teaches how to use the microscope using various exercises. This kit looks different, but purports to be the same sort of thing:

 

http://www.carolina.com/product/getting+to+know+your+microscope+set.do?keyword=how+to+use+a+microscope&sortby=bestMatches

 

Here's a beginners' zoology set they carry:

 

http://www.carolina.com/product/beginner%27s+zoology+microscope+slide+set.do?keyword=how+to+use+a+microscope&sortby=bestMatches

 

Or here's a more basic biology kit that covers all 5 kingdoms (there are actually more than 5 now):

 

http://www.carolina.com/product/basic+biology+microscope+slide+set.do?keyword=how+to+use+a+microscope&sortby=bestMatches

 

Home Science Tools actually has better prices for homeschoolers:

 

http://www.hometrainingtools.com/search.asp?ss=microscope+kits&x=33&y=15

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I have the Usborne book mentioned in the previous thread. I think that would be a good place to start. Your library may have it, mine did. :)

 

It's a nice introductory type of book. There's some history of the microscope kind of info, as well as how to care for a microscope and other items you will need. And then there are chapters on various items to explore and learn about...cells, bacteria, plants, fibers and fabrics, paper....etc. It is a pretty thorough intro, IMO.

 

You could use it as a jumping off point and go deeper from there.

 

I would also recommend hometrainingtools for buying any supplies you need. I bought some inexpensive slide sets, both prepared and plain glass. HTH!

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For an introduction to microscopes, we used the GEMS teacher's guide Microscopic Investigations. It begins with putting basic kitchen ingredients onto slides and drawing pictures of what you see, comparing them, etc. The end is a "mystery" substance that requires the kid to draw on what he's learned previously to identify it.

 

This is obviously not a curriculum, but it's a nice, open-ended introductory exploration and set of guided observations.

 

http://www.lawrencehallofscience.org/GEMS

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Helena,

Sorry to hijack...I've asked about the Kym Wright microscope study before...what kind of microscope would I need for this? I have a Brock Magiscope. The RR sample page talks about top lighting...that makes me think my microscope won't fit the bill. I keep holding off on purchasing for this reason.

 

Thanks,

 

Carolyn

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Helena,

Sorry to hijack...I've asked about the Kym Wright microscope study before...what kind of microscope would I need for this? I have a Brock Magiscope. The RR sample page talks about top lighting...that makes me think my microscope won't fit the bill. I keep holding off on purchasing for this reason.

 

Thanks,

 

Carolyn

 

This is the microscope we're using: http://www.hometrainingtools.com/kids-led-cordless-microscope/p/MI-1000LED/

It's different than the one they shown in the workbook. But for the most part it's no biggie. Labeling parts of the microscope was different than some of the parts we have on ours. We labeled the workbook according to the their photo, then I made a giant version of ours on a cork board and labeled that accordingly. We've definitely learned about different types of microscopes.

Our microscope lights from the bottom, it hasn't been a problem at all.

 

You do need to be able to switch to different objective lenses for many of the labs.. and, looking at the Brock I'm not sure if you can do that? You learn about the diaphragm, and some other things that may not be on your microscope.

 

Having said that, I think it's no problem to keep it flexible and work around the differences. Most of the program is looking and recording, wet mount/dry mount etc.

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