Microworlds

Lesson 6

Students will practice using their microscopes. They will look at different kinds of print.

1. Content Standards

4-5 INQD Investigations involve systematic collection and recording of relevant observations and data.

2. Concepts

3. Lesson Set-Up and Management

Materials:

For this lesson, it is very important that you have several kinds of print for the students to look at. Each student will need 1 of each of the following:
- a black and white newspaper picture,
- a color newspaper picture,
- a glossy black and white magazine picture, and
- a glossy color magazine picture.
Students will not be using slides for this lesson.

This is one way students could organize their notebook page for Lesson 6.

Student Management:

Give each group newspapers and glossy magazines to look through. This will cut down on the movement around the classroom.
You want to keep the students looking at the same type of print at the same time, so you can discuss what they are seeing frequently.

4. Teacher Tips:

Let students have plenty of time to explore the different kinds of print before drawing in their notebooks.
It is helpful to have the students set up their notebooks by dividing it into fourths. That way they have a space for each of the four kinds of print. (When they have totally finished with each piece, I have them glue the sample beside the drawing.)
Model the set up of their notebooks and what you expect their drawings to look like. Drawing exactly what they see inside the piece of screen is a good way to do a scientific drawing, so that they get the idea of drawing exactly what they see. You should count the number of dots of each color and draw that.

5. Literacy Support

Reading Support:

A group of French artists from the 1800s developed a painting style called pointillism. This was done using dots similar to what the students observed in the print. You may want to have students research and read about them.

Last updated 02/20/2010