Middleschool Science Class

[cape2fish]

Cool beans, I agree with what Raven had to say and would add that microscopes are actually very hard for young people to learn to use properly. They sometimes have a hard time looking into the eyepiece in a relaxed way and rather try to focus their eyes on the eyepiece rather than looking into infinity. This makes it hard to see the sample. If they use a binocular setup they sometimes can not see through both eyepieces because the student's interpupilary distance is smaller than the microscope's. Therefore having a static image of something familiar is a great idea because they now know what the sample should look like and not have to guess if they are seeing what a teacher is describing to them. That way they can concentrate on learning how to use the microscope and not get distracted by a cool sample. I just hope that they graduated to more interesting microscopic samples!

For full disclosure I teach microscopy techniques and use microscopes daily.

[saltfly]

Yes he is the president........BUT.It's a science class.Why can't a picture of a scientist[s] be used?The kids my not recognize them at first but how about a lesson with pictures of the scientists and what their contribution to science has been.That would be more in line with SCIENCE.I'm not buying it!

[Cool Beans]

Originally Posted by saltfly

Yes he is the president........BUT.It's a science class.Why can't a picture of a scientist[s] be used?The kids my not recognize them at first but how about a lesson with pictures of the scientists and what their contribution to science has been.

EXACTLY!! That would be great!!!

[Raven]

there is no higher related field of science than that!

Quote:

Professor John Hart at the University of Michigan is highlighting his persona in something very, very small, by creating a series of microscopic portraits he calls "nanobamas."

Hart works at the Department of Mechanical Engineering, where research into carbon nanotubes is performed. Nanotubes were used to create the portraits, each about a half-millimeter across. The portraits are so small that an electron microscope is needed to photograph them.

Carbon nanotubes are a super-material that promise to let us to do everything from climb buildings to take an elevator into space. This particular use is rather less practical, but Hart's hope was that creating these nanobamas would increase awareness for his field of research. But, with the current economic downturn, the ongoing war in Iraq, and dozens of other crises facing the President-to-be, we think it's going to take something a little...bigger to capture his attention. [From: Science Daily]

for more of his art go here: http://www.nanobliss.com/

[saltfly]

That's fine.It is truely amazing what can be done.Was this part of the technology passed on to the children?

[Cool Beans]

It wasnt the nanotech version, these were miniature pictures on paper. The 6th graders dont have the expensive electron microscopes required to see this.

[saltfly]

Thanks for clearing that up

[Cool Beans]

I just don't like politics in the class rooms, these things only pop up under democrats. Any picture of any animals (puppies or kittens) or something along those lines instead of the current president, unless it was part of several presidents from the past (which this wasn't). It's middle school science not high school political science. It's bad enough that some of the teachers have Obama stickers on their desks or Obama coffee mugs. Teachers should teach the subject matter not their political beliefs.