Looking through a microscope opens a whole new world to a child. You can make your own microscope with items you can find around the house. Even young children can help make and use this simple microscope. Once your child sees some of the items in our world that are not visible to the naked eye, he can get hooked on science.
Instructions
1. Identify the parts of the matchbox. The outside part is the sleeve. The inside box structure is the tray.
2. Open the matchbox. Using the scissors, cut away most, but not all, of one of the large sides of the outside sleeve. Leave about 1/8 inch around the edge. You need to re-close the matchbox eventually, so handle it carefully.
3. Measure the end of the box's sleeve. Cut a piece of thin, see-through plastic.
4. Attach the plastic to the end of the matchbox sleeve with transparent tape. Allow only a minimal amount of tape to extend into the opening.
5. Put the matchbox back together with the transparent end up. Build the wall of the lens. To do this, draw a small circle of petroleum jelly on the transparent plastic. Use the toothpick the help make as round a circle as possible.
6. Place a single drop of water inside the petroleum jelly circle. As you look at the water, you can see microorganisms. Slide the sleeve of the matchbox up and down to help focus your mini-microscope. You can also place other objects in the lens for viewing.
Tags: help make, petroleum jelly, with transparent