Submitted by: Jennifer Webb
Collaborators:
School: Pocahontas Middle School
Summary
Students will learn the parts of a compound light microscope. Students will understand how to correctly use a compound light microscope in order to view items on a slide. Students will learn how to make a wet-mount slide and view it properly under low, medium, and high powered objective lenses. Students will understand what makes a good microscope drawing and how to properly label slide drawings. Students will view human hair (shaft & follicle), as well as four different types of animal hair. Students will use their knowledge of the microscope to identify hairs found at a crime scene and help solve the mystery of the Hairy Cat Caper.
TIPC Ratings
Students will be using their computers and the internet to search for microscopic hair samples that would help them identify the unknown hair samples found in our suspect’s cars during the Hairy Cat Capers lab.
Students are working in student selected groups of 4 in order to solve the mystery as well as compare hair samples.
Students are solving a “real world” crime by identifying hair samples found in possible suspect’s vehicles.
Students will summarize and make predictions using digital tools to solve a crime.
Student Artifact
Download Files
- Microscopes Lesson Plan
- Perfect Microscope Drawing
- Hair Analysis Lab
- Hair Evidence Worksheet
- Hair Evidence Student Sample
- Hairy Cat Capers Lab
- Hairy Cat Capers Student Sample 1
- Hairy Cat Capers Student Sample 2
- Hairy Cat Capers Student Sample 3
- Microscope drawing Sample
