will receive Microscope Worksheet to answer and
Microscope Study Guide to review.
WHY USE A MICROSCOPE?
Microscopes allow us to see objects and structures
too small for the naked eye, revealing the intricate
details of cells, tiny organisms, and materials.
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE MICROSCOPE
The microscope's history dates back to the late 16th
century with the invention of the first compound
microscope by Dutch makers Hans and Zacharias
Janssen. Pioneers like Robert Hooke and Antonie van
Leeuwenhoek made significant contributions, coining
the term "cell" and discovering microorganisms.
Joseph Jackson Lister improved lens quality in the
19th century, culminating in the revolutionary
electron microscope in 1931.Today, modern
microscopes employ advanced technologies,
continuing to reveal the intricacies of the microscopic
world and pushing the boundaries of scientific
discovery.
Let's get started on our microscopic adventure!
Happy observing!
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
At the end of the activity, the learners must be able
to:
a. identify parts and functions of a microscope;
b. compare and contrast the parts and functions of a
compound microscope and the capsule microscope
(improvised); and
c. focus a specimen using the compound microscope
and the capsule (improvised) microscope.
FIRST SITUATION: The teacher will present
Introduction to Microscope through a PowerPoint
presentation which discusses the different parts of the
modern microscope and functions and proper
handling of slides containing the specimens. Students
SECOND SITUATION: The teacher will present
two microscopes, the capsule (improvised)
microscope and modern microscope. Students will
review the study guide independently and then
relocate to respective groups to begin the proper
activity.
MATERIALS
Powerpoint Lab Notebook
1 compound microscope Cut out letter “e”
1 capsule microscope (improvised) Slides
Water Smartphone (as light source) Dropper
PROCEDURE
Set up 1 (Using the compound microscope)
1. Cut out the letter “e” and place it on the clean slide
face up.
2. Add one (1) drop of water on top of the “e.”
3. Slowly and gently lower the clean cover slip on top
of the “e” and water drop.
4. Use the compound microscope to focus the “e”.
5. Draw what you see on the slide.
6. Place the slide on the stage and view it on low
power (4x). Center the “e” in your field of view.
Draw what you see.
7. View the specimen under high power (40x). Only
use the fine adjustment knob to focus your image.
Draw what you see.
Set up 2 (Using the capsule (improvised)
microscope)
1. Cut out the letter “e” and place it on the clean slide
face up.
2. Add one (1) drop of water on top of the “e.”
3. Slowly and gently lower the clean cover slip on top
of the “e” and water drop.
4. Use the capsule microscope to focus the “e”.
5. Focus the “e” my manipulating the basic parts of
the capsule microscope.
6. Draw what you see.
ACTIVITY WORKSHEET
Describe what you have observed under capsule
I. DATA, RESULTS, AND OBSERVATIONS (improvised) microscope.
___________________________________________
PART 1. Draw what you have observed under the ___________________________________________
compound microscope using the low power ___________________________________________
magnification (4x).
PART 2. Compare the capsule microscope
(improvised) with the modern microscope.
a. Identify the parts of the compound
microscope and briefly describe the function
of each part. Provide the answers using the
words from the box.
b. Examine the capsule microscope
(improvised). Draw the capsule microscope
Describe what you have observed under the and identify its parts based on your
compound microscope. knowledge of parts and function of the
__________________________________________ compound microscope. List the essential parts
__________________________________________ missing from the structure and discuss how
this affects the functionality (optical and
__________________________________________
mechanical) of the microscope.
__________________________________________
Draw what you have observed under the compound Figure 1.
microscope using the high-power magnification
Ocular lens Diaphragm
(40x).
Objective lens Light
Arm Stage
Base Stage Clips
Coarse adjustment knob
Fine adjustment knob

Describe what you have observed under the

compound microscope.
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
Draw what you have observed under the capsule
microscope (improvised).

a. Fill in the table with the names and functions of
each part of the microscope in Figure 1.
PART NAME FUNCTION
A
D Mechanical
b. Draw the capsule microscope (improvised),
identify and label its parts in comparison to the
compound microscope found in Figure 1.
List the missing optical and mechanical parts of the
capsule microscope (improvised) and describe how
this affects its functionality by using the ideas which
you have learned in the discussions and activity.
PARTS How does this affect the
microscopes functionality?
Optical
II. FINDINGS
Analysis Question:
1. In using the compound microscope, what happens
when you increase the power of magnification of the
microscope? Does the magnification of a specimen
increase or decreases?
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
2. Study the image of the normal view of letter “e”
under the capsule microscope (improvised). Compare
the appearance of the letter “e” under the LPO and
HPO of the compound microscope.
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
3. Which magnification in the compound microscope
allows you to see the whole letter “e”? Low Power
Objective or High-Power Objective?
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
4. What does the diaphragm control as you change
the adjustment? Is this present in the capsule
microscope (improvised)? How does this relate to
specimen observation?
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
III. CONCLUSION
Analysis Questions
1. What were the advantages and disadvantages of
using a compound microscope compared to an
improvised microscope in observing microscopic
structures?
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
2. How did the magnification and resolution of the
compound microscope compare to the improvised
microscope? What did you observe about the clarity
and detail of the images produced by each?
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
3. Which microscope was more effective in observing
specific structures or features of the sample (e.g. cell
walls, nuclei, etc.)? Why do you think this was the
case?
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
4. What were some limitations of the improvised
microscope that made it less effective than the
compound microscope? How could these limitations
be addressed or improved?
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
5. What would you recommend to improve the design
or functionality of the improvised microscope to
make it more comparable to a compound
microscope?
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
IV. POST ACTIVITY QUESTIONS
1. What was the most surprising or interesting thing
you observed during the activity?
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________

2. How did your observations using the two

microscopes compare to your prior expectations or
understanding of microscopy?
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________

3. What did you learn about the importance of

microscope design and construction in producing
high-quality images and observations?
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________