Zoom Into Science
If you are like me, you might enjoy teaching science because it typically is a little more hands-on than say reading a book or studying about a world explorer (not to say those aren't fun), but they don't always allow for hands-on learning. And that is what so many students LOVE about learning - the visual and tangible aspects. I know I prefer a video, image, or demonstration when I am trying to comprehend something new. Can anyone say "Pinterest"? Why is it so popular? Because of the visual images we can see and process right away. Much of the information you find on Pinterest was already out there - they just packaged it as a fun way to learn. And boy do I learn way more than I know what to do with when I am pinning - lol!
Today, I had a super fun product to review that I bet many of your students would love to get the hands on! It is called Zoomy, a handheld digital microscope, and it is from Learning Resources! At first, it looked to me a bit like a blue egg. But, then I decided students might figure that is even cooler. :)
It is so simple to use:
1. Plug the USB adapter into your computer.
2. Install the software (it comes with a disc, but I was also able to easily download it right from their product page too).
3. Use Zoomy to analyze something and adjust the focus by spinning the top of the unit until it is clear.
4. Have fun!
The software allows you to take single shots, a video, or continuous pictures set at the times you decide. So, you could use the video for student demonstrations or assessments. Or you could set up an experiment - I am thinking something like mold - and have the digital microscope take a picture every day for X amount of days and be able to see the time lapse. Pretty neat!
Here is an image of a screenshot I did when I was using the microscope to check out my sofa. Since there is no green in my brown corduroy piece of furniture, I am guessing the green is the stuffing under or has something to do with light refraction. Either way, that would make for a cool conversation.
Let's play a fun game and see if you can guess what the other images I gathered are below. I am thinking you could really set up a game like this in your classroom for science period too, or as a hook leading in to a specific topic for your science lesson that day. Answers are at the very bottom of the page.
Our fabulous friends at Learning Resources have graciously agreed to supply on lucky reader here at Organized Classroom their very own Zoomy Digital Microscope! Whooo hoooo! Enter below and good luck to everyone from Learning Resources and Organized Classroom!
Answers from above in order from top/down: my sweater, my fingertip, pencil on a piece of paper
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