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IT'S A SMALL WORLD AFTER ALL!

Microscopes are used for many purposes. They help to identify minerals and find out more about metals. They can help scientists discover what causes disease in crops and how temperature affects the food you eat. Scientists can even use these instruments to determine areas where illegal drugs are grown. Microscopes are very important in medicine. They can identify changes in activities within the cell, and they can be used to identify the micro organisms responsible for many diseases. Microscopes can also be used to determine why things die.

DO IT! As a scientist, you too can use the microscope to perform investigations. There are many things that you can look at under a microscope. Scientists conducts experiments using the "methods" of science. This means that they take certain steps to make sure that their experiment will be as accurate as possible. Because you are also a scientist, you should follow this same method. Here it is. Research a subject. Form a hypothesis Identify the variables. Include controls in the experiment Collect and record data. Analyze the data and form a conclusion
The variable would be the amount of light that each plant receives.	VARIABLES You may have questions about this process. You know the hypothesis is that good old "educated guess" regarding the outcome of the experiment. A variable is the thing that you change in the experiment. Perhaps you want to find the effect that light has on plant cells. What would the variable be? Highlight the area in the box below the plant cell to find out.
IN CONTROL The control, is what you don't change. If you were performing the above experiment, can you think of what the controls of the experiment might be? Highlight the area above the microscope slide to the right to find out if you were correct.	All plants should be the same species and size. Also, all plants should be given the same amount of food,water etc.
	Design an experiment using the microscope and report on your findings. Include drawings of your observations in the report. Below you will find some subjects that might interest you or you may want to choose something different. Remember that different microscopes have different capabilities. For example, you won't be able to identify atoms using your microscope at school. Also remember to follow all lab safety procedures.
IDEA LIST Brine shrimp Pond water Motor oil from a parking lot Plants Butterfly wings Belly button lint Small insects Sand Salt or sugar crystals Teeth scum Fingernail grime

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Created July 1, 1999 by Kathleen Ochsenbein