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How to Make a Prepared Slide:
Samples for examination should be very thin so that light can pass
through them. If the sample is too thick it will appear dark in the
microscope.
Cloth fibers, pollen, dust or salt crystals will be easy to see and make
good samples for beginners to observe.
If the sample is very thin and clear a drop of red or blue dye may make
details show more clearly. To prepare the dyes in your set add enough
warm water to half fill the dye bottle. Replace the lid tightly and shake
well until the dye crystals are all dissolved. You can transfer a drop of
dye from the bottle to your slide with the pipette.
Be careful with the dyes as they can stain clothing, furniture or carpets.
A) Making a Temporary Slide
1) Wipe the slide clean.
2) Prepare a thin sample. You may have to slice it with a
scalpel or a razor blade. Be very careful. You may want
to ask for adult help.
3) Pick up your sample with the tweezers and put it on the
center section of the slide. Add one drop of water. If
needed you can now add a drop of dye.
4) Gently place a temporary slide cover (plastic) over the
sample, being careful not to allow any air bubbles in.
5) Remove any excess water or dye with a piece of paper
towel by pressing it down gently over the slide cover.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: Wash your hands before and after every project. Use
warm water and soap. Also wash any of your microscope kit equipment that
you may have used. Be very careful when handling the glass slides and slide
covers. Make sure that an adult knows what you are doing and is available to
help you.
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PROJECT #1: Cloth Fibers
You will need: Your microscope
Scissors to cut small samples
Scrap pieces of cloth of different types.
Clean
blank
slides
All types of cloth are made from long, thin strands called fibers. Some,
like wool, come from animals. Others, like cotton, come from plants. Still
others are made from chemical actions. Nylon and polyester are samples
of man-made fibers.
Take small samples of various fibers such as cotton, wool and polyester.
Put one sample at a time between two clean, blank slides like a
sandwich. Put the slide sandwich under your microscope. Can you see
the difference between natural and man-made fibers?
Look at how tightly the strands are wound. Some are very tight and
smooth. Others are loose and spiky-looking. The loose fibers can trap
air. This trapped air can help to keep you warm. Compare a wool fiber
with a polyester fiber. Which one do you think will keep you warmer?
Notes:
Type of
Cloth Fiber
Is it Man
Made or
Natural?
Are the
Fibers
Tightly
Wound?
Are the
Fibers
Loose and
Spiky
Looking?
Will Keep
You
Warm?
PROJECT #2: Animal Fur
You will need: Your microscope
Two or more clean, blank slides
Samples of different types of fur and hair
Study samples of fur from cats, dogs, and even your pet hamster. Animal
fur is like the hair on your head. It protects the skin underneath from cold,
heat, and sunburn. Some animals have fine, smooth fur. Others have
stiff, bristly fur. Some is short and some is long. Long haired animals can
