M I C R O S C O P E
28 P I EC E
FUN OBSERVATIONS
1. Filter Wheel: Locate the Filter Wheel (X) on the Stage of the microscope. The Filter Wheel has
7 positions. There are 4 color filters (Red, Yellow, Blue and Green) and 3 aperture filters
(9 mm, 6 mm and 3 mm DIA). It's fun to see how the image will change with each filter.
2. Brine Shrimp Hatchery: Brine Shrimp are tiny crustaceans that are ideal to study with a microscope.
Your microscope kit comes supplied with Sea Salt, Brine Shrimp Eggs, and a Shrimp Hatchery.
The eggs are dried and have a shelf life of 5 years, if stored in a cool dry place.
To hatch the Brine Shrimp for observing, follow these steps:
a. Prepare a brine solution: Pour the entire contents of the Sea Salt vile into a quart of tap water.
Add some brine shrimp eggs into the solution. Let the solution stand at room temperature (70°-
80° For 21° to 26°C) for 24 to 48 hours. The eggs with hatch in this time creating nauplius larvae.
b. Place some of the larvae into a compartment on the Shrimp Hatchery (E)
c. Place some fresh brine solution in a separate compartment of the Hatchery (E). Add a small
amount of yeast (user supplied) to this solution. Using the Dropper (C), transfer some of the larvae
into this compartment. The yeast will serve as food and produce oxygen for the larvae as they
develop into maturity.
d. Observe the life cycle of the Shrimp as they grow, through the microscope using the shortest
objective. The steps in the lifecycle are: the Dried Eggs, the Hatching Eggs, the Developing Larvae,
and finally the mature Shrimp.
TIP: Do not always assume that increasing magnification will produce the best image for viewing. Each
time you increase the magnification, the amount of light decreases, and the section of the image you are
able to view also decreases. Experiment observing with all three Objectives for all specimens until you get
a feel for the magnification levels.
3. Make Your Own Slides: It is easy to make slides! A section of almost any material can be placed on
a slide and observed with a microscope. Your kit includes a lot of the items you will need, but you
will also need to gather the following typical household items:
• Scissors
• Petroleum Jelly
• Natural uncolored toothpicks
• 2 or 3 Small Bottle Caps
• 1 Wide mouth Jar and Lid
• 3 or 4 paper Cups, or similar small disposable container
• Paper Towels
• A Measuring Cup
Setup your work area on a flat open space, like a desktop. Label 3 cups as "Clean, Flush and Waste.
Fill the "Flush" cup with clean water. You are now ready to find a specimen. Here is a suggestion for a
simple first slide - Crystals.
TIP: Start thinking like a scientist as you perform your experiments. Observe carefully, take notes,
and keep your equipment and work environment clean. Experiments work best with clean and
uncontaminated equipment.
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K I T