New Microscopes: Changing the Way Students Look at Life
Justin Wardyn, Science Teacher, 2022-2023 School Year
Description & Need:
We are requesting funds to purchase battery-powered microscopes. Our entire life science unit hinges on students gaining an understanding of all living things being made up of cells. In order to see these cells, microscopes are needed. We currently have enough microscopes for one classroom and would like to purchase 15 additional microscopes for the other two science classrooms so that all 6th-grade science students can participate and have the same access to needed materials at the same time.
How project meets Instruction Goals and Mission Statement:
With our mission statement being "Engaging All Learners to Achieve Success", we believe that microscopes are an engaging way for students to learn. Students truly feel like they are scientists when they are using the microscopes and they can grasp a true understanding that cells, while unable to be seen with the naked eye, do exist. Our district also expects our students to learn at the level of the standard. The 6th-grade science standards 6.6.2 states that students must gather evidence and conduct an investigation to prove that living things have cells while non-living things do not have cells. Microscopes will help students meet this standard.
Major Objectives:
100% of students will recognize that living or once living organisms are composed of cells while non-living organisms are not composed of cells. After looking at cells in the microscope, 100% of students will be able to demonstrate their knowledge by drawing a plant and animal cell.
Teaching Methods:
Students will be investigating different slides with living, once living, and non-living organisms on them in small groups. The teachers will have one-on-one and small group conferences with students to help them understand how to use the microscopes and to explain what they are looking at. Additionally, teachers will ask deeper-level questions about the organisms students are looking at to help them gain a full understanding of the differences between living and non-living organisms as well as different types of cells. Students will then be asked to support a claim that living things are made of cells by using the evidence that was discovered while using the microscopes. Finally, teachers will conduct a class discussion to clarify any misconceptions and to wrap up the cells investigation.
Grade Level Impacted:
6th graders will be directly affected by this project. Their knowledge of 7th and 8th-grade life science will also be improved as the science content will build in future grades. Approximately 300 6th graders will benefit from this project each year and the microscopes will be used from year to year. Other grade levels and contents (i.e. STEM) could also borrow these microscopes to be used as needed.
Additional Materials:
An additional material that will need to be purchased in the future are AA batteries as needed. Each microscope requires 3AA batteries. Batteries will be taken out and stored when the microscopes are not in use.
Project Evaluation:
An informal evaluation will take place where the teachers will determine if students understand that living and once living things are made of cells while non-living things are not. Students will also complete a chart documenting some items and organisms that they investigated under the microscope. They will record whether cells were present and draw and label what they saw. Teachers will use this chart to determine if students can accurately draw the plant and animal cell.
