CATEGORY 5 points 4 points 3 points 2 point

Criteria
Identify Parts of Student Student Student correctly Student
Microscope correctly points correctly points points to 3-5 parts correctly
to all parts of to 6-9 parts of of the compound points to 3-4
the compound the compound light microscope. parts of the
light light compound
microscope. microscope. light
microscope.
Focusing Slide Student uses Student Student correctly Student
stage clips to correctly performs 2 out of correctly
mount slide, performs 3 out 4 steps in the performs 1
adjusts eye of 4 steps in the sequence. out of 4
pieces, sequence. steps in the
focuses using sequence.
lowest
magnification
and coarse
focus before
moving to fine
focus and
higher
magnification.
Clean up & Storage Student Student Student correctly Clean up &
correctly correctly performs 2 out of Storage
switches performs 3 out 4 steps in the
microscope on of 4 steps in the sequence.
lowest power, sequence.
removes the
slide and
stores on it
cabinet.
TOTAL
Name:______________________________ Score:__________________

Section:_____________________________ Date: __________________

Activity 1

How to Use The Light Microscope

I. Objectives

After performing this activity, you should be able to:

A. handle the microscope properly;

B. identify the parts of the microscope;
C. describe what parts of the microscope can do;
D. prepare materials for microscope study;
E. focus the microscope properly;
F. compare the image of the object seen by the unaided eye and under the microscope;
and
G. compute for the magnification of objects observed under the microscope.

II. Materials

lens paper light microscope tissue paper or old t-shirt newspaper page

glass slide and cover slips pencil dropper

scissors tap water forceps or tweezer

III. Procedures

A. The Microscope, Its Parts and their Functions

1. Get the microscope from its box or the cabinet. Do this by grasping the curved arm with
one hand and supporting the base with the other hand.
2. Carry it to your table or working place. Remember to always use both hands when
carrying the microscope.
3. Put the microscope down gently on the laboratory table with its arm facing you. Place it
about 7 centimeters away from the edge of the table.
4. Wipe with tissue paper or old t-shirt the metal parts of the microscope.
5. Figure 1 shows a light microscope that most schools have. Study and use this to locate
different parts of the microscope.
6. Look for the revolving nosepiece. Note that objectives are attached it. You should know
that there are lenses inside the objectives.
7. Find the coarse adjustment. Slowly turn it upwards, then downwards.
 8. Looking from the side of the microscope, raise the body tube. Then, turn the revolving
nosepiece in any direction until the LPO is back in position. You will know an objective
is in position when it clicks. Note that the revolving nosepiece makes possible the
changing from one objective to another.
9. Locate the eyepiece. Notice also that it is marked with a number and an x. Know that the
eyepiece further magnifies the image of the object that has been magnified by the
objective. If the eyepiece is cloudy or dusty, wipe it gently with a piece of lens paper.
10. Look through the eyepiece. Do you see anything?

11. Now, locate the mirror. Then, position the microscope towards diffused light from the
windows or ceiling light. Look through the eyepiece and with the concave mirror (with
depression) facing up, move it until you see a bright circle of light.
12. Locate the diaphragm. While looking into the eyepiece, rotate the diaphragm to the next
opening. Continue to do so until the original opening you used is back under the hole in
the stage.
13. Find the inclination joint.
14. Grasp the arm and slowly pull it towards you. Sit down and try looking through the
eyepiece.

Guide Questions:

Q1. What are the functions of the base and the arm of the microscope?

Q2. What have you observed about the objectives?

Q3. What is accomplished by turning the coarse adjustment upwards? downwards?

Q4. What is the other function of the revolving nosepiece?

Q5. Which part connects the eyepiece to the revolving nosepiece with the objectives?

Q6. What are the two functions of the eyepiece?

Q7. Describe the function of the mirror.

Q8. What do you notice as you change the diaphragm openings?

Q9. What can you infer as to the function of the diaphragm?

Q10. What parts of the microscope are being connected by the inclination joint?

Q11. What does this movement do?

IV. Conclusion

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Name:______________________________ Score:__________________

Section:_____________________________ Date: __________________

Activity 2

How to Use The Light Microscope Part II

B. Making a Wet Mount

1. Cut out a small letter “e” from a newspaper page. Using forceps or tweezers place it in
the center of a glass slide in an upright position
2. Add a drop of tap water over the specimen. It will act as a mounting medium and make
clear the image of the specimen. Position the cover slip at 45° with one side touching one
edge of the water on the slide (Figure 2).
3. Slowly lower the other edge of the cover slip until it rests on the water and the printed
letter. Bubbles are perfect circles you see on your preparation. Remove or minimize
trapped bubbles by gently tapping the cover slip with the eraser-end of a pencil. Make the
bubble move towards the edge of the cover slip. C. Observing Specimens
4. Put the slide on the stage. Make sure that the letter is in the center of the hole in the stage
and under the LPO. Hold it firmly with the stage clips.
5. Watching from the side, carefully lower the body tube until the end of the LPO almost
touches the cover slip.
6. Look through the eyepiece. Slowly turn the coarse adjustment upwards to raise the
objective until the letter “e” appears. Continue until you see the letter clearly. This would
indicate that you have focused it already.
7. Look through the microscope again. Slowly move the slide to the right, then to the left.
8. Move the slide to the center. To shift to the HPO, raise the body tube first. Looking from
the side, turn the revolving nosepiece to put the HPO in place. Then, using the fine
adjustment slowly lower the objective till it almost touches the cover slip. Looking
through the eyepiece, turn the fine adjustment until you see the clearest image.
9. Look through the eyepiece again. Then, shift to the LPO, and the scanner. Observe
closely the image of the letter.

Guide Questions

Q12. What makes the letter “e” suitable for observation under the microscope?

Q13. Describe the position of the letter as seen under the microscope.

Q14. Compare the image of the letter that you see using your unaided eye with what you

see through the microscope.

Q15. To which direction does the image move?

Q16. Why do you have to watch from the side when changing objectives?
 Q17. Why should the fine adjustment knob be used only with the HPO?

Q18. In which objective/s can you see the whole letter “e”?

Q19. What are the advantages of using the HPO? the disadvantages?

Q20. In which objective is the light darker? brighter?

Conclusions

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______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________.
Name:______________________________ Score:__________________

Section:_____________________________ Date: __________________

Activity 2

How to Use The Light Microscope Part III

C. Magnifying Power of the Light Microscope

1. Examine the numbers indicated on the eyepiece and scanner.

2. After using the microscope, lift the stage clips to remove the slide from the stage. Wash
and wipe or air dry the slide and cover slip. Keep them in their proper places. Dispose
trash or other materials properly.

After every use of the microscope, prepare it for storage following these steps:

1. Turn the revolving nosepiece until the LPO is in place.

2. Lower down the body tube so that the end of the objective is approximately 1 cm above
the stage.
3. Position the clips so that they do not extend beyond the sides of the stage.
4. Rotate the diaphragm until the smallest opening is in position.
5. Let the mirror stand on its edge with the concave side facing the user to protect it from
dust.
6. Some microscope boxes have a socket for the eyepiece. In this case, remove the eyepiece
from the body tube and place it in the socket.
7. Put back the microscope’s plastic cover. If the original plastic cover has been lost or
destroyed, use any clean plastic bag big enough to cover the microscope.
8. Carry the microscope as described in Step 1 of Procedure A. Put it back in its case or
storage cabinet or return it to your teacher.

It is but important for you to know how to take care of this tool for an efficient and longer use.
Here are some practices to achieve this:

1. Check the microscope before and after use. Report any missing or damaged part to your
teacher.
2. Use a clean tissue paper or soft cloth like old t-shirt to clean the mechanical parts of the
microscope.
3. Prevent liquids, especially acids and alcohol from spilling on any part of the microscope.
Always use a cover slip in observing wet mounts.
4. Check for moisture (such as from condensation of human breath) in the eyepiece. This
may happen due to prolonged observation of specimens. Wipe with lens paper. Grade 7
Science 102 Living Things and Their Environment
 5. Avoid tilting the microscope while observing wet mounts. Water might flow into the
mechanical parts of the microscope causing them to rust. Select a chair with suitable
height so that both forearms can be rested on the table during observation.
6. Never store the microscopes in a chemical laboratory or any place where there are
corrosive fumes. Make sure there are silica get packs inside microscope boxes or storage
cabinet to absorb moisture.

Conclusions

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________________________________________.

1. What is the light source of a microscope also known as?

a. Light bulb
b. Illuminator
c. Sun
d. Flashlight

2. What are stage clips in a microscope?

a. Wooden clips that hold the stage in place

b. Rubber clips that hold the arm in place
c. Plastic clips that hold the lenses in place
d. Metal clips that hold the slides in place
3. If you placed an "e" in the slide of a compound microscope, and moved the slide to the left, in
what direction would the e appear to move?
a. To the right
b. Upward
c. To the left
d. Downward
4. Most high school microscopes come with three different objective lenses. Which of these is
NOT a lens power?
a. Regular power
b. High power
c. Medium power
d. Low power
5. It is used to bring the specimen into view, but never used on high magnification.
a. Fine Adjustment Knob
b. Diaphragm
c. Course Adjustment Knob
d. Ocular Lens

RUBRICS IN USING MICROSCOPE

CATEGORY 4 points 3 points 2 points 1 point

Criteria
Identify Parts of Student Student Student correctly Student
Microscope correctly points correctly points points to 3-5 parts correctly
to all parts of to 6-9 parts of of the compound points to 3-4
the compound the compound light microscope. parts of the
light light compound
microscope. microscope. light
microscope.
Functions of the Parts Student is able Student is able Student is able to Student is
of Microscope to explain the to explain the explain the able to
purpose of purpose of 6-9 purpose of 3-5 explain the
 each part of parts of the parts of the purpose of 3-
the microscope. microscope. 4 parts of the
microscope. microscope.
Focusing Slide Student uses Student Student correctly Student
stage clips to correctly performs 2 out of correctly
mount slide, performs 3 out 4 steps in the performs 1
adjusts eye of 4 steps in the sequence. out of 4
pieces, sequence. steps in the
focuses using sequence.
lowest
magnification
and coarse
focus before
moving to fine
focus and
higher
magnification.
Focusing Slide Student uses Student Student correctly Student
stage clips to correctly performs 2 out of correctly
mount slide, performs 3 out 4 steps in the performs 1
adjusts eye of 4 steps in the sequence. out of 4
pieces, sequence. steps in the
focuses using sequence.
lowest
magnification
and coarse
focus before
moving to fine
focus and
higher
magnification.
Clean up & Storage Student Student Student correctly Clean up &
correctly correctly performs 2 out of Storage
stores performs 3 out 4 steps in the
microscope on of 4 steps in the sequence.
lowest power, sequence.
switches off
power before
unpluging
when
appreopriate,
wraps cord,
and carries
with 2 hands to
store.
TOTAL