Day 3: Biological Inquiry
STEP 1: Over the past two days, you’ve learned how to build and use your Foldscope and practiced exploring everyday materials under the microscope. Today, you’ll take everything you’ve learned and design your own investigation. You’ll also have a chance to turn what you see into microscopic art, using photos, sketches, or digital tools to document and share your findings.
STEP 2: Choose a question you’re curious about. Use your Foldscope to explore it just like a real scientist. You can revisit materials from earlier or bring in something new!
Need ideas? Here are 10 investigation questions to choose from (or make your own!):
- Which type of fabric (cotton, wool, synthetic) has the most visible fibers?
- Do pen inks look different under the Foldscope (gel, ballpoint, permanent)?
- How do different kinds of salt crystals compare under the microscope?
- What happens to a soap bubble or residue after it dries?
- Are the fibers in paper towels different from napkins or tissues?
- Which type of plant leaf has the most visible structure?
- Can I tell the difference between chalk dust and sidewalk dust?
- What does water from a flower vase look like compared to tap water?
- What do the threads of dyed vs. undyed fabrics look like?
- Can I see anything living in soil or water I collected?
STEP 3: Use the below format to plan and record your investigation:
- Question: What do I want to find out?
- Sample(s): What will I look at?
- Method: How will I prepare and observe the sample?
- What did I notice? Describe what you saw and any surprises.
- Art + Documentation: Include a photo or sketch. Label parts, patterns, or textures.
STEP 4: Upload your best microscope photo or drawing as evidence of your investigation. In the “Write something…” area, include a short description of what you did, what you found, and any surprises or cool details you noticed. Click here to see all posts
