Light Microscopes Lab
$7.00
An engaging lab activity designed to enhance students’ ability to identify and describe the parts of and safely use a light microscope.
Description
SNAPs Lab Stations Activities require students to use science, math, literacy, problem-solving and engineering skills. They are designed to enhance students’ understanding of scientific concepts and help students apply scientific ideas to the real world. Each station activity promotes skills so to develop students into proficient and competent scientific thinkers.
SNAPs lab activities have five components:
• Science Skills Station to develop science skill proficiency
• Narrative Station to build science literacy
• Assessment Station to evaluate learning and understanding
• Problem-Solving Station to foster engineering design
• Synthesis Station and Project to inspire higher-order learning
DIGITAL LABORATORY – DISTANCE LEARNING & DIGITAL CLASSROOMS
• This lab is offered in a digital format to support digital classrooms & distance learning.
• The digital lab activity is designed to work with Google Slides and Microsoft PowerPoint
• The digital lab activity CANNOT be edited. However:
– Students can manipulate text boxes
– Students can create tables, graphs and diagrams
– Students can insert images and drawings
GOOGLE FORM ASSESSMENT STATION
• The assessment station is offered as a self-grading Google Form.
• Questions are all short answer and are 100% editable.
• Suggestions for use are included in the download.
DISTANCE LEARNING COMPATIBILITY
SNAPs lab activities are rated for their ease with distance – independent learning. Refer to the preview for more information about how well this laboratory works in a fully digital classroom and with distance learning.
EDITABLE DOCUMENTS
This download includes an editable word document (docx file) of all lab components:
• Pre-Lab and Post-Lab Activities
• The Lab Overview
• Lab Station Activities and Questions
• Directed Synthesis Project (when applicable)
Important Notes:
• Diagrams, illustrations, tables and graphs essential to lab activities are included
• Illustrative clipart is NOT included
• Editable documents and rubrics are included with the FREE SNAPs Setup Guide
Editable files allow you to:
• Edit the scope of the activities so to suit your students’ needs
• Edit the materials required based on resource availability
• Create single-period “mini-labs” using activities at the individual skills stations
The activities at each station in this lab are detailed below.
Microscopes Lab Stations Activity Learning Objectives
1. Compare and contrast the function and use of a light microscope, dissecting microscope and electron microscope.
2. Identify and describe the parts of a light microscope.
3. Explain how to carefully and safely use a light microscope.
Science Skills Station
Students will focus on the structure of a light microscope at this station. Students will examine a light microscope. They will identify the parts of a light microscope and describe the function of the parts.
Narrative Station
Students will read an informational text about different types of microscopes at this station. Students will compare and contrast the function and use of a dissecting microscope, light microscope and electron microscope. Students will also read about how to safely and carefully use a light microscope.
Assessment Station
At this station, students will answer questions about key terms and ideas relating to microscopes. Students must employ lower, mid and higher order thinking skills to answer these questions.
Problem-Solving Station
Students will evaluate situations in which scientists have to use microscopes to study microbes, cells or organelles. Students will determine which microscope would be best to use in each situation. They will identify the benefits and limitations to the use of the microscope as it pertains to the specific situation.
Synthesis Station
Students will compose a CER (claim-evidence-reasoning) report to summarize the lab. Students are provided the claim statement and must support the claim with observations, data and other information gathered in the lab. Students will explain how the evidence supports the claim using scientific reasoning.
Synthesis Project
Students will have a choice of 11 projects. Refer to the SNAPs Lab Stations Best Practices and Setup Guide for directions and suggestions on how to conduct the project.
This download includes:
• A pre-lab assignment and post-lab reflection
• Directions and questions for each lab station
• Student recording sheets
• Teacher Key
Additional Materials Required:
Light microscope
Prepared slide (a glass slide, coverslip and specimen)
Note: Students will NOT focus on viewing a specimen with this lab. The prepared slide is needed to help students understand the function of the microscope parts and how those parts help view a specimen.
LINKS TO VIDEOS
This laboratory requires internet to access videos. Videos are hosted on SafeShare.TV so to safely watch and share educational YouTube videos without ads, comments and other distractions. Full and shortened links to original YouTube videos are included.
NEXT GENERATION SCIENCE STANDARDS
This laboratory does not address a specific Next Generation Science Standard, but it complements NGSS concepts. It combines the three dimensions of science learning – science and engineering practices, disciplinary core ideas and crosscutting concepts – in order to meet the standard. This laboratory also makes interdisciplinary connections to STEM, Math CCSS and ELA CCSS to build the appropriate skills.
TERMS OF USE
• All rights reserved by Stephanie Elkowitz.
• This product is to be used by the original purchaser only.
• Intended for classroom and personal use only.
• Copying for more than one teacher, classroom, department, school, or school system is prohibited.
• This product may not be distributed or displayed digitally for public view.
• Failure to comply is a copyright infringement and a violation of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA).
