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Using the Intel Microscope in Primary
Science
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Janine Lambourne, Sutton at Hone
Primary
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Foundation |
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- Use the Intel Microscope to investigate parts of the body.
- Investigate fingerprints. Rub fingers in chalk dust then take a strip of sellotape across the fingertip. Mount this strip sticky side down onto a small piece of black paper. View under the microscope.
- Look at different materials through the microscope.
- Put the microscope into the role play area e.g. a Garden Shop, Hospital, Opticians, Vet.....
- A walk in the grounds – use the microscope to look at objects which pupils have collected.
- Video sequences of minibeasts found outside.
- Snapshots of minibeasts – print as stickers for the children to wear.
- Export snapshots of minibeasts as graphics files. Save in Clicker 4 graphics directory with name of beast, to use in a Clicker 4 grid.
- Look at fingers at 10x magnification – add name of child to snapshot of finger and print out – to understand that the microscope makes things bigger.
- Take snapshots of minibeasts - use ‘fly’s eye’ and print both original snapshot and the enhanced image through fly’s eye for children to match up.
- Collect smooth and rough objects – look at under microscope.
- Observe leaves under microscope – print out on A4 – cut into leaf shape and use to add to a display of a tree or beanstalk (Jasper’s Beanstalk).
- View rings on a cross section of a tree.
- Put different patterned ribbons under the microscope – look at the pattern at 10x magnification and match to original ribbon.
- Draw felt pen lines on different types of paper and view.
- Watch a caterpillar eating its tea !
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Year 1 |
1A
1B
1C
1F |
Ourselves
- Look at fingers, eyes, ears, nose and tongue. (Health & Safety – avoid light in eyes!)
- Use the Intel Microscope to identify how an unfamiliar minibeast moves. Create a video and use it to discuss movement of the minibeasts.
- The Intel microscope could be used to take images of tadpoles at various stages of development. These photos could be imported and a suitable word bank prepared. The children could label developing parts, e.g. legs. This activity could also be undertaken with other minibeasts. The children could produce a sentence using words and images from the word bank.
- Watch how tadpoles, skaters, worms and snails move.
Growing Plants
- Look at seeds; take time lapse pictures of seedlings growing.
Sorting and using materials
- Look at fabrics –which have are the most waterproof? Which have the most holes?
- Use the microscope to investigate the 'weave' of different fabrics.
- Look at smooth and rough items under the microscope.
Sound and Hearing
- Use the microscope to look at the ear.
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Year 2 |
2B
2C
2D
2F |
Plants and Animals in the Local Environment
- Observe minibeasts, frog spawn and/or insects.
- Use the Intel Microscope to examine seeds and slices of fruit.
Variation
- Make a slideshow of pictures of minibeasts. Group them according to observable features.
Changing and grouping Materials
- Look at natural and synthetic materials close up; observe e.g. clay, dry clay and fired clay.
- Take time lapse pictures of ice melting.
- Use the microscope to look at ice and water.
Using Electricity
- Use a microscope to look at an unlit bulb.
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Year 3 |
3A
3B
3C
3D
3F |
Teeth and Eating
- Look at teeth.
- Use the Intel Microscope to take photos of a tooth that has been put in coca-cola, over several hours.
- Look inside mouths at teeth. Look at disinfected teeth that have fallen out.
Helping Plants Grow Well
- Observe roots, slices of celery, flower, stems. Use images for display.
- Use the Intel Microsocope to observe and photograph seeds shooting (e.g. bean, cress) over a period of time.
Characteristics of Materials
- Look at papers for mopping up a spill and predict which will be the best.
- Look closely at the surface of materials using the Intel Microscope.
- Compare glass, wood and metal.
- Look through the microscope at knitted and woven materials. Which will be more stretchy?
- Look at different 'waterproof' fabrics and watch, or record in a short movie, what happens when you drop some water onto them.
Rocks and Soils
- Look at rocks and soils and compare textures and composition.
- Use the Intel Microscope to observe and investigate rocks and record observations.
- Forensics - compare soil samples from the treads of different people's trainers. Have they been playing on the same surface?
Light and Shadows
- Use the light from below to look at magnified opaque objects as shadows. Match the shadow to the object.
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Year 4 |
4A
4B
4C
4D
4E |
Moving and Growing
- Look at bones and minibeasts with external skeletons.
Habitats
- Look at minibeasts and classify using a key (links to ICT QCA 4c – branching database).
- Use the Intel Microscope for time lapse photography of e.g.woodlice in a choice chamber.
- Time lapse of an ant with a blob of strong sugar solution. Watch what the ant does.
Keeping Warm
- Look at materials – which offer the best insulating properties – discuss open spaces.
Solids and liquids and how they can be separated
- Look at materials to see which would make the best filter; take time lapse pictures of ice melting or chocolate cooling.
- Video materials mixing and dissolving e.g. water and cornflour.
- Use the Intel Microscope to observe solids (fine powders) that appear to behave as liquids.
Friction
- Look at different surfaces – which do children think will cause most friction?
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Year 5 |
5B
5C
5D |
Life Cycles
- Look at fruits and seeds, stamens of different plants and bees’ bodies and legs.
- Use the Intel Microscope to create time lapse photography of germination, to examine pollen grains and seeds.
- Seed germination - prepare cress seeds and set up a time-lapse movie to capture this.
Gases Around Us
- Look at dry sponge or soil to see the gaps between solid particles.
- Look at sand and identify the space between the particles and think about the way the water displaces the particles.
Changing State
- Make a movie of ice crystals turning into liquid.
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Year 6 |
6A
6B
6C
6D
6E |
Interdependence and Adaptation
- Look at soil samples and suggest which would provide the best habitat for soil living animals and plant growth.
- Present children with two soil samples and ask them to observe them closely eg with microscopes and to record differences between the two soils eg size of pieces of rock, colour, dryness, animal/plant material.
- Compare hair / wool from different animals.
Micro-organisms
- Use the Intel Microscope to look at mould on food.
- Observe mould and yeast growing, using time-lapse photography
More about Dissolving
- Observe evaporation of salty water using time-lapse photography .
- Use the Intel Microscope to look at crystallisation in a saturated salt solution.
- Observe cornflour and water dry out, using time lapse.
- Look at grains of different materials through the microscope e.g. coffee, salt, sugar...
- Make a short movie, or time-lapse movie, of a sugar cube dissolving. Export the movie into PowerPoint.
Reversible and Irreversible changes
- Video the mixing of materials which react, e.g. bicarbonate of soda and vinegar
- Watch chocolate flakes melting under the heat of the lamp.
Forces in Action
- Look at stretched and resting rubber bands. What is different?
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