Students kit Exploring the world of the small
This kit contains equipment and resources for scientific experiments covering multiple disciplines to learn the methods and procedures for observing very small objects.
After a range of initial observations of small objects through a magnifying glass, there are numerous experiments allowing students to learn step by step how to prepare tiny objects for investigation with a microscope and how to use a microscope itself.
Age 11-14
Materials for 1 work group or demonstration
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1 - Inspection of plant seeds
experiment "Inspection of plant seeds "
The students look at the plant seeds with the different lenses of the three-lens magnifier.
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2 - Inspection of fish scales
experiment "Inspection of fish scales "
Students examine different fish scales using the three-lens magnifier and the beaker magnifier and then record the differences.
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3 - Inspection of feathers
experiment "Inspection of feathers "
Various bird feathers are examined with the three-lens magnifier and the beaker magnifier. The special features are then recorded by the students.
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4 - Examination of a hair
experiment "Examination of a hair "
Different hairs, also from animals, are to be examined under the microscope. The students should observe the differences between the individual hairs and their structure.
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5 - Examination of feathers
experiment "Examination of feathers "
Various bird feathers are examined with the three-lens magnifier and the beaker magnifier. The special features are then recorded by the students.
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6 - Examination of a butterfly wing
experiment "Examination of a butterfly wing "
A butterfly wing is viewed under a microscope and the magnifications are traced on drawing paper.
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7 - Examination of onion epidermis
experiment "Examination of onion epidermis "
The students examine the different parts of an onion skin under the microscope.
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8 - Examination of waterweed or rhizomnium moss
experiment "Examination of waterweed or rhizomnium moss"
Students examine leaflets of a water pest or star moss plant under the microscope.
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9 - Examination of vacuoles (cell sap cavities)
experiment "Examination of vacuoles (cell sap cavities)"
Some pulp is removed from a ripe privet berry using a lancet needle and examined under the microscope.
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10 - Examination of stinging hairs from a stinging nettle
experiment "Examination of stinging hairs from a stinging nettle "
Using the lancet needle or microtome, individual stinging hairs are removed from the stems or leaf veins of stinging nettle plants that are as fresh as possible and observed under the microscope at various magnification levels.
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11 - Examination of pollen
experiment "Examination of pollen "
Students examine pollen from different flowers and grasses.
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12 - Examination of the nutrient transport systems of a plant
experiment "Examination of the nutrient transport systems of a plant "
We will shortly provide a description of the experiment here.
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13 - Examination of storage cells of a potato tuber
experiment "Examination of storage cells of a potato tuber "
We will shortly provide a description of the experiment here.
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14 - Examination of the skin on the underside of a plant leaf
experiment "Examination of the skin on the underside of a plant leaf "
Using the lancet needle, the outline of a piece of about 10 x 10 mm is scratched on the underside of a leaf. The open tweezers are used to penetrate one side of this piece slightly into the leaf and then the closed tweezers are used to peel off the lower layer. The layer is placed on the center of the slide with the bottom of the leaf facing up and a drop of water added.
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15 - Examination of cells from the lining of the mouth
experiment "Examination of cells from the lining of the mouth "
A drop of water is applied to the center of the slide using the dropper pipette. Using a disposable wooden spatula, some oral mucosa is scraped off the inside of a cheek. The students examine the cells of the oral mucosa under the microscope.
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16 - Observation of freshwater polyps
experiment "Observation of freshwater polyps"
Students examine freshwater polyps with a microscope.
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17 - Observation of food ingestion by a freshwater polyp
experiment "Observation of food ingestion by a freshwater polyp "
A freshwater polyp is carefully picked up with the dropper pipette and placed in the lid of the small plastic box held upside down. Subsequently, a few live water fleas are picked up with the pipette and also placed in the lid.
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18 - Observation of water fleas
experiment "Observation of water fleas "
A few live water fleas are picked up with the dropper pipette and placed in the well of the microscope slide. The students examine the water fleas with a microscope.
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19 - Examination of insects
experiment "Examination of insects "
Various dead insects are collected and kept ready in the plastic box before examination.
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20 - Examination of pond water or stream water
experiment "Examination of pond water or stream water "
The water samples are kept ready in the polyethylene bottles. The prepared specimen is observed extensively at the highest magnification of the microscope. The observed objects in the water sample are compared with the representations of the provided figure and it is determined which organisms they are.
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21 - Examination of living creatures in a hay infusion
experiment "Examination of living creatures in a hay infusion "
Students explore the creatures in the hay infusion.
- 4 × Graduated plastic beaker, 100 ml
- 2 × Dropping pipette, plastic
- 1 × Coloring agent blue (food color)
- 1 × Dye (food colouring), red
- 1 × Triple lens magnifying glass
- 1 × Dissecting needle, straight
- 1 × Forceps, with blunt points
- 1 × Knife
- 1 × Brush
- 3 × Watch glass, 80 mm
- 1 × Pack filter papers (100 pcs.)
- 1 × Cotton wool balls
- 1 × Cover glasses, 20/20 mm
- 1 × Cup magnifier
- 1 × Dissecting needle, lancet shape
- 1 × Microscopic slides, 50 pcs.
- 1 × Pack of microscope slides with cavity, 10 pcs.
- 1 × Spatula, wood
- 1 × Microtome
- 1 × Box, plastic, 60/40/18 mm
