CK-12 Foundation
Magnifying Glass
How can a magnifying glass or reading glasses make things appear larger? Scholars simulate moving a lens closer or farther from an object to observe the resulting image. They also alter the lens focal length. The simulation shows the...
Exploratorium
Water Sphere Lens
With a Florence flask or fishbowl, make a double convex lens and use it to examine an image. Because of the refraction, the image will be inverted. A simple explanation is provided here for you to share with your class as they...
Curated OER
Magnify That
Students observe many different objects using a magnifying lens. In this magnification lesson plan, students learn that scientists use different tools, and they use the tool to magnify objects in the classroom to see objects in better...
Curated OER
Iron For Breakfast
Third graders are challenged to use scientific thinking, they experiment and observe which objects are attracted to a magnet. Pupils use the evidence to construct an explanation as to what common property the objects attracted to a...
American Museum of Natural History
Life in the City
Believe it or not, biodiversity exists even in areas of disturbed habitat. An interactive activity challenges learners to look for species with a magnifying lens in an image of a city habitat. Pop-up images and descriptions explain how...
National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network
Taking a Closer Look at Objects
Take a close look at the world around you with an activity that magnifies everyday objects. Five explorations examine items under intense magnification and pose a series of questions that encourage critical thinking and following...
Curated OER
Bending Light Waves to Magnify
In this magnification worksheet, students read about how lenses magnify images and how to determine the magnification of an image. Students divide ten by the focal length which is found to be the measurement from the center of the lens...
Physics Classroom
The L.O.S.T. Art of Image Description - Converging Lenses
Magnifying glasses and cameras often use converging lenses, but how do they alter an image? Pupils discover a lens, axis, and object arrow before identifying four characteristics of the resulting image. They label the location,...
Curated OER
Playground Zoom
Students observe and draw small objects on the playground or in the classroom with and without a magnifying glass. They explore how lenses can affect the way that an object is observed from afar or remotely sensed. Afterwards, they share...
Curated OER
What is an Earthworm Like?
Second graders study earthworms. In this science lesson, 2nd graders observe an earthworm using a magnifying lens, draw pictures of the earthworm, and record their observations.
Curated OER
Applied Science-Science and Math Post Lab
Students explore magnification. In this science skills observation lesson, students make a hand lens using a wire loop and a small amount of water.
Cornell University
Building a Compound Light Microscope
What better way to learn how to use a microscope than building your own? A lab investigation has scholars use lenses from magnifying glasses and sheets of cork to design their own compound microscopes. They calculate focal length and the...
Curated OER
Red Worms Rock!
Second graders measure red worms. In this lesson plan, 2nd graders observe and collect data on red worms. Students measure the red worms and create a graph with the data they collect.
Curated OER
Cells: The Units of Life
In this cells worksheet, 9th graders identify and use a microscope to look at cells. They explain the purpose for a microscope and how to find the total magnifying power of a microscope. Students also determine what would cause an image...
Curated OER
Applied Science-Science and Math Lab
Students explore magnification. In this scientific observation skills lesson, students observe sea life items and draw pictures of what they observe. Students predict which lens will have the strongest magnification when given three...
Curated OER
Kingdom Protista
In this kingdom protista worksheet, learners conduct an experiment by placing a handful of grass in to a jar and filling the jar with pond water. Then they place the jar in a dark place for 3 days and observe the contents. Students also...
Curated OER
Lenses
Students identify the different uses of lenses. In this physics lesson, students compare lenses with different magnifications. They record data and discuss results in class.
Curated OER
Meadows Observations
Students investigate and examine the different living things they find in a meadow. Students record the different colors that are present and create a graph, identify and label parts of a plant, use a magnifying lens to examine all ...
Curated OER
Labs from YSI 95: Telescopes
Students build a telescope and give quantification of its magnification and field of view while making observations regarding images. In this telescope lesson, students use a simple lens to project a scene and examine various telescope...
Curated OER
Urban Life: What Lives in Our Schoolyard?
Students research living organisms by exploring their school grounds. In this microscopic observation lesson, students gather materials, insects, and objects from their playground and schoolyard and bring them into class. Students...
Curated OER
A Distant View
Students investigate the essential concepts of how lenses work to magnify vision, and then build simple telescopes to demonstrate their understanding. They write a description of how their telescope could be improved and how it works.
Curated OER
Salt: Up Close and Personal
Young scholars predict, observe, and explain the details of salt as they view it under a variety of magnifications. They observe salt with the naked eye, and then under a hand lens, microscope, and the electron microscope.
Bowels Physics
Special Case — Ray Diagrams
Add a ray of light to the class as young scientists learn important foundational concepts. Assist pupils with focal lengths as they study ray diagrams. Pupils review images and compare them to mirrored images before solving problems on...
Curated OER
Outdoor Observation
Students use observation materials to record what they find outdoors. In this senses lesson plan, students use their five senses to observe things outside. They use a clipboard, pencil, crayons, magnifying glass, and their senses to find...