Reviews of Genetics Instructional Materials

Title: Small Things and Microscopes

Grade Level:	3 - 5, 6 - 8
Other Uses:
Type:	Teacher's guide (112 pp.)
Authors:	Terrill, Eileen
Publisher:	Delta Education, Inc.
Year of pub.:	1994
Price:	$32.95

Description: Small Things and Microscopes, a Delta Science Module, contains 13 activities relating to cells, microbial life, and microscopes. All activities can be done with a $15 plastic compound microscope sold by Delta that can magnify up to 200X. More expensive microscopes may also be used. Although Delta says this book is geared to grades 3-5, we found that many activities were best for slightly older students in grades 4-8.

Strengths: Well written, with doable activities and clean blackline drawings, this book is recommended as a resource to support a classroom's first foray into the microscopic world.

Weaknesses: A couple of exercises did not work well with only 200X magnification, such as viewing individual cells and their nuclei in raw beef. Onion and human cheek cells were easily observed, however.

Keywords: Cells, microscopy, microorganisms, bacteria, protists

Other subjects addressed: Magnification, optics

ISBN#:	0875041523
Ordering Information:

reviewed 02/03/03 by MTB
last updated 02/0303