Microscope Explorations: Discover a Microscopic World Around You! STEM/Biology
What's included
8 live meetings
6 hrs 40 mins in-class hoursHomework
1 hour per week. Each week, students will be given homework assignments to further extend their learning. Completion of the homework assignments is encouraged, but not required. The course is flexible and it is okay if a learner is not able to complete all the homework assignments.Assessment
Student progress will be assessed through class participation and completed homework assignments.Class Experience
US Grade 3 - 6
In this 8-week course, delve into a wide variety of topics related to microscopy, cell biology, materials and microorganisms! We'll teach students how to use the Foldscope, an affordable $40 microscope designed by Stanford scientists to be durable, child-friendly and easy-to-use, while performing on par with conventional tabletop microscopes. We will also cover how to use a standard tabletop compound lab microscope, and those learners that have one at home can choose to utilize it for the class instead of, or in addition to, using the Foldscope. The focus of the course is hands-on discovery. Class time will include demos of how to work with the Foldscope and compound microscope, hands-on viewing of samples, student sharing of discoveries, and short educational presentations by the instructor to provide scientific background and context. Students will be guided to explore their environment during class time and during the week through fun & flexible weekly homework assignments. (Completing the homework assignments is optional, but encouraged.) If don't already have a microscope, prior to starting the course, please order a Foldscope microscope from their website at foldscope.com. We recommend purchasing the $39.99 Foldscope 2.0 Explorer Kit, which includes a coupler to attach a phone camera to the microscope to take photos and videos. Please purchase the Foldscope fully assembled, since we will not be constructing it in the course. Since we are not allowed to post purchase links in the course description, we will send ordering links directly to parents upon registration. Course Outline Session 1 Topics: Functions and parts of the Foldscope. How to view samples directly with the Foldscope. Brief History of Microscopy - one of the first microscopes, made by Antony van Leeuwenhoek in 1668, also used a single glass ball, like the Foldscope. Homework: view a variety of items from home and garden (student’s choice). Session 2 Topics: Students share homework discoveries. How to prepare and use slides (using example of a leaf). How to attach a smartphone to take photos and videos. Introduction to cell biology. Homework: Prepare and view slides of leaves and other items (student’s choice); compare viewing of slides to direct viewing; take photos & video of observations. Session 3 Topics: Students share homework discoveries. Further discussion of cell biology. Examine an onion sample and identify the parts. Homework: View a variety of vegetables, fruits and other samples (student’s choice). Session 4 Topics: Students share homework discoveries. Exploring structures and textures of different materials. Examine hair under the microscope. Demonstration of how to use a standard lab microscope. Homework: View different types of hair (human, animal) under different conditions (wet, dry); also view fibers such as cotton and wool, plus student’s choice. Session 5 Topics: Students share homework discoveries. Introduction to Microorganisms. Discuss different types of microorganisms and their sizes. Homework: View a sample of pond water or other standing water, plus student’s choice. Session 6 Topics: Students share homework discoveries. Introduction to microbiomes of air, sea and land. Viewing sample from the soil and discuss the soil microbiome. Homework: Students view soil from their garden, plus student’s choice. Session 7: Students share homework discoveries. Introduction to the human microbiome. Examine a fungi sample. Homework: View different types of fungi, plus student’s choice. Session 8: Students share homework discoveries. Learn how to share microscope images with the global Foldscope community (optional). Discuss ideas and resources for continuing microscope exploration.
Learning Goals
A description of each session's learning goals is listed below:
Session 1
Students will learn about:
- Functions and parts of the Foldscope.
- How to view samples directly with the Foldscope.
- Brief History of Microscopy
- Homework: view a variety of items from home and garden (student’s choice).
Session 2
Students will learn about:
- How to prepare and use slides (using example of a leaf).
- How to attach a smartphone to take photos and videos.
- Introduction to cell biology.
- Homework: Prepare and view slides of leaves and other items (student’s choice); compare viewing of slides to direct viewing; take photos & video of observations.
Session 3
- Further discussion of cell biology.
- Examine an onion sample and identify the parts.
- Homework: View a variety of vegetables, fruits and other samples (student’s choice).
Session 4
- Exploring structures and textures of different materials.
- Examine hair under the microscope.
- Homework: View different types of hair (human, animal) under different conditions (wet, dry); also view fibers such as cotton and wool, plus student’s choice.
Session 5
- Introduction to Microorganisms.
- Discuss different types of microorganisms and their sizes.
- Homework: View a sample of pond water or other standing water, plus student’s choice.
Session 6
- Introduction to microbiomes of air, sea and land.
- Viewing sample from the soil and discuss the soil microbiome.
- Homework: Students view soil from their garden, plus student’s choice.
Session 7
- Introduction to the human microbiome.
- Examine a fungi sample.
- Homework: View different types of fungi, plus student’s choice.
Session 8:
- Learn how to share microscope images with the global Foldscope community (optional).
- Discuss ideas and resources for continuing microscope exploration.
Syllabus
8 Lessons
over 8 WeeksLesson 1:
Session 1
Students will learn about:
- Functions and parts of the Foldscope.
- How to view samples directly with the Foldscope.
- Brief History of Microscopy
- Homework: view a variety of items from home and garden (student’s choice).
50 mins online live lesson
Lesson 2:
Session 2
Students will learn about:
- How to prepare and use slides (using example of a leaf).
- How to attach a smartphone to take photos and videos.
- Introduction to cell biology.
- Homework: Prepare and view slides of leaves and other items (student’s choice); compare viewing of slides to direct viewing; take photos & video of observations.
50 mins online live lesson
Lesson 3:
Session 3
- Further discussion of cell biology.
- Examine an onion sample and identify the parts.
- Homework: View a variety of vegetables, fruits and other samples (student’s choice).
50 mins online live lesson
Lesson 4:
Session 4
- Exploring structures and textures of different materials.
- Examine hair under the microscope.
- Homework: View different types of hair (human, animal) under different conditions (wet, dry); also view fibers such as cotton and wool, plus student’s choice.
50 mins online live lesson
Other Details
Supply List
Prior to starting the course, please order a Foldscope microscope from their website at foldscope.com. We recommend purchasing the $39.99 Foldscope 2.0 Explorer Kit, which includes a coupler to attach a phone camera to the microscope to take photos and videos. Please be sure to purchase the Foldscope fully assembled, since we will not be constructing it in the course.
Language of Instruction
English
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Teacher expertise and credentials
We're dedicated to introducing young students to the amazing world of quantum physics, invention & science research! We've been offering STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art & Math) classes and creating educational materials for students of all ages for over 15 years. We're excited to share this course content with more students through Outschool.
Reviews
Live Group Course
$18
weekly or $144 for 8 classes1x per week, 8 weeks
50 min
Completed by 109 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 8-13
4-9 learners per class