The Microscope in Historical Perspective

by Kristin Gabel

Overview

This module incorporates discussion, labs, and web-based inquiry activities. The web-based activities are designed through WISE – (Web-based Inquiry Science Environment, run through Berkeley and funded through NSF).

We focus on the use and development of microscopes as a framework of how a technology developed and was used to solve problems. Objectives include:

• Knowing the first scientists to develop microscopes and the types of designs they used.
• The importance (historically as well as currently) of observation and communicating the appearance of an object non-verbally.
• The historical context in which microscopes were developed and how this has influenced how we "do" science today.
• Understanding design issues that challenged microscopists.
• Being able to use a modern day compound like microscope accurately in order to get the best magnified image possible.

Day One: Introduction
1. Historical Overview: – happenings of the late 1600s, the Royal Society, Robert Hooke and Micrographia and Anton Van Leeuwenhoek.
2. Observation Activity: In context of Leeuwenhoek's first observations of bacteria students observe with a hand lens and draw (observational skills).
3. Wise Activities 1 and 2: "why invent a microscope in the first place?" and going back in time to view Hooke's and Leeuwenhoek's microscopes.

Day 2: Technical Issues of the Microscope
1. Review and share some reports from Activity 2, sharing as scientists spread information to others through organizations such as the Royal Society.
2. Lab: Lighting. students have the opportunity to develop their own conclusion about the lighting, working much the same way early microscopists had to to solve design issues.
3. Wise Activity 3: Technical aspects of the microscope. Here students will delve into the issues of magnification and resolution as well the parts of a modern day light microscope.

Day 3: Using a light microscope:
1. Review magnification and resolution from Day 2 Wise Activity.
2. Microscope Lab: traditional lab on magnification, depth of field, & focus

Day 4: Assessment Project:
Using Hooke's or Swammerdam's images as a guide, create a coat of arms for the ruling family. Incorporate a small insect or object that you will observe in class as the focal point of the coat to show the family has power over the small and great. (Background information will be given on the importance of patronage to science in the 1600s, including the bees in the Barberini family's coat of arms).

Open outline and bibliography. || Open teacher's historical notes for each day.