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Comparing the Zooming in on a Picture to the Magnification of a Microscope
Comparing the Zooming in on a Picture to the Magnification of a Microscope
Rita Fisher
Thomas Metcalf Lab School
Summer 2005
Bloomington, Illinois 1867. Drawn by A. Ruger.
Library of Congress
Map Collections: 1500-2004
Children have a hard time understanding that when they look through a microscope that they do not see the whole specimen. Not everyone sees the exact same thing because they may be looking at a slightly different part of the specimen. Zooming in on the picture will be compared to increasing the magnification on the microscope.
Overview/State Standards/Resources/Procedures/Evaluation
Overview Back to Navigation BarObjectives / · Compare zooming in on a picture with increasing magnification on a microscope.
Recommended time frame / Two 50 minute lessons
Grade level / 6th – 8th
Curriculum fit / Science
Resources / · Image table
· Lab sheet
Illinois State Learning Standards Back to Navigation Bar
Science:
GOAL 11: Understand the processes of scientific inquiry and technological design to investigate questions, conduct experiments and solve problems.
· 11 A. Know and apply the concepts, principles an processes of scientific inquiry
GOAL 13: Understand the relationships among science, technology and society in historical and contemporary contexts.
· 13 A. Know and apply the practices of science
· 13 B. Know and apply concepts that describe the interaction between science, technology and society.
Procedures Back to Navigation Bar
Prerequisites:
· Knowledge of the parts of a microscope
· Some experience in using a microscope that has different powers of magnification
· Experience in drawing observations from magnifying glasses
· Knowledge of how to present drawings so they are accurate and informative to someone that takes a look at them
· Knowledge using the computer to locate a specific location
Day One:
Step one
· Class discussion of why it is important to magnify anything
· Explain from the narrative what they will be doing in the computer lab
· Take paper and pencil to computer lab or worksheet
Step two
· Go to computer lab
· Have the students have the URL address of the picture from the Library of congress collection (Click on picture to enlarge for lesson)
http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/gmd:@field(NUMBER+@band(g4104b+pm001400))
Step three
· Be sure each student has brought up the picture
· Have students report on their observations about the picture
· Record these observations on their paper
· Tell them to zoom in at least three times and record their observations
· Remind them how to label their observations(title, border, amount of zoom)
· Place in science folder for follow up the next day
Extension:
· If a student finishes early have them go to this URL http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/gmdhtml/nphtml/npmaptitlindex1.html and choose a map of their choice to repeat the lesson.
Day Two:
· Have students retrieve their lab sheet from yesterday
· Compare the drawings from the first observation of the picture to the others that they zoomed in on. (Be sure that they mention that they do not see as much of the picture as they did the first time and that there is more detail that can be seen)
· Have them exchange papers and compare their observations to their neighbors
· Discuss reasons why they are not the same
· Ask the students if they can see how this can compare to magnification of a specimen using the microscope. Lead them to see this if they do not!!
Evaluation Back to Navigation Bar
· Class discussion
· Collect drawings and observe that more detail is evident as the student zooms in on the picture.
Give points for the drawings
· 1 point for the border
· 1 point for the title
· 1 point for the amount of zoom
· 2 points for the drawing
An Adventure of the American Mind
Illinois State University