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.