The Adolescent Microscopic World

Funded Aug 25, 2023

Thank you so much for your donation to help my students understand the microscopic world. These new microscopes allowed my students to enjoy several laboratory activities. Purchasing the animal and plant slides allowed the students to first observe prepared slides before they made a wet-mount of a leaf of Elodea. Although we had been studying cells they were observing a tissue, one student commented "This was really cool seeing a tissue, I had no idea how cells made them."

When students observed the Elodea they were able to see chloroplasts moving, one student even stated "Mrs. Ford, there is something moving in my microscope!" When they learned it was due to the extra heat from the microscope's light shining below they had couldn't wait to teach and show their classmates. As they introduced salt to the slide they were able to see the cell membrane pull away from the cell wall for protection and to maintain homeostasis until tap water was added back to the slide. One student commented, "that's crazy that the cell has that much control to keep itself alive!" Seeing their high level of excitement makes teaching very rewarding.”

With gratitude,

Mrs. Ford