The Orlando Science Center New Microscopy Outreach Program

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The Orlando Science Center New Microscopy
Outreach Program
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I. Introduction Introduction to the Orlando
Science Centers New Microscopy Footlocker. II.
Teacher Demonstrations Micro crystal growth
under the microscope- Observe micro crystal
formation as various salt solutions rapidly cool
under a microscope. Monoclinic, triclinic, cubic,
and orthorhombic crystal shapes can be viewed on
a projector as they are forming. Polarized Light
Microscopy- When oriented molecules such as
crystalline chemicals (birefringent materials)
are placed between two polarizing filters, the
crystals exhibit amazing colors (interference
colors) or subtle patterns. Students will observe
several samples of crystals through crossed
polarizers viewed on a projector. Microlife- Expl
ore the diverse life that exists in a single drop
of pond water. Teacher will identify and explain
differences in unicellular and multicellular
animals, bacteria, and algae. CD-Rom and
companion guide are free to teachers.
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III. Student Activities Students create their
own crystals- Students will create their own
micro crystals on a microscope slide using Epsom
salts (safer than the salts the teacher uses in
the demo).   Students view their crystals through
crossed polarizers- Students can observe
interference colors that their crystals produce
and save a picture of their favorite crystal
colors on a disk.   MicroLife ID
Activity- Students find their own microorganisms
in pond water, identify the species, and save
pictures of their favorite microorganisms. IV.
Question and Answer Session
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The new Microscopy Outreach Program was designed
to meet the needs of a larger range of teachers
by including 1. Optical crystallography for
geology or earth space curriculum. 2. Observing
interference colors produced by crossed
polarizers and interference color scale for light
and optics/ physical science curriculum. 3.
Geometric Crystal shapes, calibrating microscopes
and measuring the field of view for math
teachers. 4. Exploring and identifying
unicellular and multicellular organisms,
autotrophic and heterotrophic protozoa, and
sampling methods for water pollution for life
science, biology or ecology curriculum. Also, any
teacher that purchases the program will have
access to the Orlando Science Center's Scanning
Electron Microscope during a Live On-line Lab
Session with Sally. The school can send specimens
in before the outreach and then view their
specimens during class.
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Micro crystal growth under the microscope
Using a microscope, carefully examine the
droplets of various salt solutions as they cool.
Scan the focal plane for the formation of small
crystals and observe their rapid growth.
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Potassium Chromate Crystals
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Potassium Chromate Crystals
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Potassium Chromate Crystals
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Potassium Chromate Crystals
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Potassium Chromate Crystals
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Potassium Chromate Crystals
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Potassium Chromate Crystals
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Potassium Chromate Crystals
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Potassium Chromate Crystals
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Potassium Chromate Crystals
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Sodium Chloride Crystals
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Sodium Chloride Crystals
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Sodium Chloride Crystals
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Sodium Chloride Crystals
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Sodium Chloride Crystals
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Sodium Chloride Crystals
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Magnesium Sulfate Crystals
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Magnesium Sulfate Crystals
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Magnesium Sulfate Crystals
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Magnesium Sulfate Crystals
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Magnesium Sulfate Crystals
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Potassium Sodium Tartrate Crystals
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Cupric Sulfate Crystals
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Cupric Sulfate Crystals
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Cupric Sulfate Crystals
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Cupric Sulfate Crystals
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Aluminum Potassium Sulfate Crystals
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Potassium Ferricyanide Crystals
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Potassium Ferricyanide Crystals
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Magnesium Sulfate Crystals
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Magnesium Sulfate Crystals
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Polarized Light Microscopy
Light scatters in every direction, but when a
beam of light is passed through a polarizer it
becomes focused in only one direction. Polarized
light waves are light waves in which the
vibrations occur in a single plane. A sheet of
polarizing material consists of layers of
crystals of iodo-sulphate quinone which are all
aligned in the same direction. So if you have a
polarizer oriented at zero degrees and rotate the
analyzer to 90 degrees, the transmission of light
is effectively blocked and no light will pass
through. Crossed polarizing lenses are when the
polarizer and analyzer are at 90 degrees relative
to each other. The lens that is placed below the
microscope stage is called the polarizer and the
lens placed above the specimen is referred to as
the analyzer. If you rotate either the polarizer
or the analyzer, you will observe that some
crystals are birefringent throughout the entire
rotation and produce amazing color displays.
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Crystals that do not respond to polarization are
called isotropic specimens. Crystals that
respond to polarization with vivid color displays
are described as anisotropic specimens. This
characteristic is called birefringence. Note
Isotropic specimens can also show color when
using compensators to create a kind of optical
staining. A compensator can be placed between the
polarizer and the specimen, so, you can place
your glass slide with the specimen on it in a
plastic Petri dish and it will act as a
compensator.
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Potassium Chromate Crystals Between Crossed
Polarizing Lenses
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Potassium Chromate Crystals Between Crossed
Polarizing Lenses
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Potassium Sodium Tartrate Crystals Between
Crossed Polarizing Lenses
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Potassium Sodium Tartrate Crystals Between
Crossed Polarizing Lenses
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Sodium Chloride Crystals Between Crossed
Polarizing Lenses
Ordinary table salt crystals form wonderful
geometric shapes, but are isotropic and remain
unresponsive under crossed polarizing lenses.
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Aluminum Potassium Sulfate Crystals Between
Crossed Polarizing Lenses
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Cupric Sulfate Crystals Between Crossed
Polarizing Lenses
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Cupric Sulfate Crystals Between Crossed
Polarizing Lenses
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Cupric Sulfate Crystals Between Crossed
Polarizing Lenses
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Cupric Sulfate Crystals Between Crossed
Polarizing Lenses
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Potassium Ferricyanide Crystals Between Crossed
Polarizing Lenses
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Potassium Ferricyanide Crystals Between Crossed
Polarizing Lenses
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Potassium Ferricyanide Crystals Between Crossed
Polarizing Lenses
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Potassium Ferricyanide Crystals Between Crossed
Polarizing Lenses
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Magnesium Sulfate Crystals Between Crossed
Polarizing Lenses
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MicroLife CD-Rom
You are about to enter a microscopic world few
people ever see and enjoy. From creepy worms to
the most intricately designed diatoms, this CD
and companion guide is sure to both surprise and
fascinate your students. Dive in and explore some
of the smallest animals alive and observe living
Daphnia with the smallest heartbeat on earth.