Looking through a microscope opens the doors to a normally invisible world for our students. Using one will help them to appreciate how complex life really is. However, choosing a microscope for homeschool use can be a bit daunting.
In this episode of the Tips for Homeschool Science Show, I’m sharing tips on how to choose a microscope for homeschool science!
**The Highlights**
>What should you look for in a microscope?
When purchasing a microscope for homeschool use, look for the following specs:
1. A compound monocular microscope;
2. A microscope with 4x, 10x, and 40x objective lenses at a minimum;
3. A microscope with separate coarse and fine adjustment knobs;
4. A good light source.
>Where can you buy a microscope?
Lab Essentials, Inc
Home School Science Tools
Amazon
>What else should you get?
You absolutely must have some kind of dust cover for your microscope!
Here is a list of several additional materials that will be helpful (but not necessary):
- Prepared Slide Set
- Blank slides with coverslips (for making your own slides)
- Concave slide (for viewing small, but thick samples)
- Lens paper (for cleaning the lens)
- Petri or sample dish (for samples that are too large for a slide)
- Test Tube (for mixing samples)
- Non-toxic stain (for staining samples for easier viewing)
- Eyedropper (for making wet mount slides)
- Forceps (for collecting and manipulating samples)
Do you have any questions about selecting a microscope for homeschool use that I didn’t cover? Email them to podcast@elementalscience.com!
**Need a bit more help with microscopic science? View the full show notes at https://elementalscience.com/blogs/podcast/27.
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