FTL Under the Microscope:Laptop Tool Time or Toy Time?
Bendle Public Schools
Shannon Rush, Bendle Middle [email protected]
Sandee Lowthian, West Bendle Elementary School
What is FTL? FTL is the Freedom to Learn program
providing a wireless laptop to every student.
At Bendle, our 3 – 8 grade students have their very own laptop for use throughout the entire day.
Although students use the laptops across the curriculum, we will be demonstrating the use of microscopes with the laptops as a tool and a toy!
Now, who are you???As you introduce
yourselves: Please fill out the raffle ticket for the Digital Blue Computer Microscope to be given away to one lucky participant here today!
Tool / Toy
Traditional Microscopes: Total Magnification – 40x, 100x, 400x Cost - $200-300
QX3/5+ Computer Microscope: Total Magnification – 10x, 60x, 200x Cost – $60-80 Captures Still and Moving Pictures, Edits Pictures, Projects Images for Entire Class to View
Benefits – Using the laptop as a tool and a toy! Learning is Fun!!
Turning everyday objects into big opportunities for fun and learning.
Using software to alter images in imaginative and wacky ways.
Creating an audiovisual show with special effects.
Creating time-lapse movies. Printing out posters, labels and
stickers.
What is it?
Study the mystery photos and try to identify each one!
They are all common objects that might be found in your home or in a classroom.
Classroom Management-Multiple Microscopes Students work
in small, cooperative groups on projects.
We have 4 students to each microscope.
Classroom Management-Single Microscope
Teacher can project using a single microscope for whole group instruction.
Students can use the single microscope for enrichment activities.
Photography Fun
Print your photo right from the microscope!
Add text to personalize your photo project!
Design Ever wonder what it
would be like to design your own flower?
Use the paint tool and then print a poster of your design!
You might prefer to print stickers, labels or a button of your new design!
Wacky Wonders! Tool Time Can Become Toy Time!
Students take a picture they have saved and make wacky wonders of science!
Make a Movie Want to watch a crystal
grow? Want to watch bread
mold form? Want to see a banana
ripen? Want to watch an insect
move? Make a time-lapse video
of it! Want to add audio
effects into the image to enhance the drama?
Explore all these and more!
Fixed or Mobile? Microscope Investigations Students can examine
salt and sugar crystals and compare how they are alike and different with the microscope in its fixed position.
Students can examine rocks and their crystals in an effort to identify the type of rock specimen when they lift the microscope off its base.
Life Sciences –Middle School Activities
Investigate samples of pond water –identify organisms found (label parts)
Sample and analyze various water sources for bacterial or chemical contamination
Grow mold on bread and observe mold spores up-close
Compare/contrast plant and animal cells
Earth Sciences –Middle School Activities
Analyze various soil samples to predict composition and permeability
Identify a rock or mineral based on sample
Observe fossils under microscope to see greater details (i.e. petrified fossils or small insects in amber)
Physical Sciences – Middle School Activities
Identify mystery powders by looking closely at crystalline structures (classify as either crystalline or amorphous solids)
Using paper chromatographyto compare ink mixtures
Capture borax or baking soda crystals forming
Miscellaneous Activities Use basic materials
to teach microscopy skills and the scientific method
Forensic Science – Look at various fibersand/or hairs under microscope to solve a crime
Students can design and conduct their own scientific experiments using the microscope
Images of Sample Organisms The dragonfly
wing looks to be light with supports throughout to keep it strong. I think these help the dragonfly fly fast and keep it from being damaged during flight.
Images of Sample Crystals
Sugar crystals have an irregular shape. These types of crystals make up amorphous solids and will melt when heated.
Salt crystals have an uniform geometric shape. These types of crystals make up crystalline solids.
Images of Sample Fibers
I have compared the sample found at the crime with these two images. I feel that the sample must be made of wool because, after looking at the fibers closely under the microscope, the fiber color, thickness, and texture matches.
Images of Sample Plants
Students are assigned to capture an image using the microscope and identify by labeling specific plant parts using Q3/5+ software.
Sample Videos – Asian Beetles
10X – Top View of Asian Lady Beetle
60X – Bottom View of Asian Lady Beetle
Alternative sources Bait shops – meal worms Craft stores – ribbons, fibers, dried plants,
feathers Pet shops – brine shrimp, water plants Hobby shops – prepared slides, bugs under
amber Nurseries – special soils, sands, live bugs,
mosses, rocks and gravel Public Aquariums and Museums – prepared
slides, crystals, fossils Office supply stores – specialty papers, stickers
Resources
Brochure on Digital Blue Computer Microscope
Lesson Plans for the elementary and middle school classroom
Reproducible worksheets Microscope activities websites