Go Micro-scale in Biology!

 Most of the time, the focus is on micro-scale in Chemistry.  Tiny amounts of chemicals is much cheaper and safer to handle and to dispose.  Since experiments involve drops instead of milliliters, it’s cheaper to repeat trials—making better science!  I’m a huge fan of micro-scale because I taught large classes Chemistry—sometimes 40 teens in a class.  (BTW, I diluted all of the chemicals to make labs even safer.). 

What about Biology?  Yes!  Microscale Fermentation, Titration, and Microscale Catalase Lab are both from SSERC and sophisticated.  (You can put hot water in a beaker to make a hot water bath.  Check the temperature periodically.  The 13x100 test tubes should work with a 3 mL pipette.)  SSERC TV has YouTube videos.

Water Beads Osmosis is more small-scale than micro-scale; it does replace Dialysis Tubing Osmosis.  (We use baggies instead of dialysis tubing.)  See if the beads absorb iodine.  They should!

Another small-scale lab is spinach leaf photosynthesis.  

UNESCO Biology MicroScience is a teacher’s guide with notes, questions, answers, and micro-scale labs embedded in the pamphlet—perfect for home-school instructors! 

Go Micro-scale in Chemistry!

Last December, I wrote a post about Microscale Labs, especially those using Radmaste kits. Before I forget, here is the UNESCO chemistry MicroScience pamphlet.  It’s a detailed guide to experiments using Radmaste kits.

The Microelectricity Experiences have a diagram with the kit and its equipment.  The Radmaste YouTube Video channel has loads of videos which explain how to use the kit’s components with the experiments.  (Any beads would work with the Molecular Modeling activities.)

Here’s the rub; the Radmaste kits are hard to find.  The equipment, such as a micro burner or micro thermometer can be expensive.  

I looked for similar kits.  In the image below, note the modified clothespin.  It’s used as a mini test tube holder.  Any spring clothes pin will work.  

In the second image are pipettes, a syringe, alligator clips, etc—all easy to find equipment.

The Royal Society of Chemistry has a complete article about microscale apparatus and equipment.  RSC Registration is free, but limited to a few articles per month.  Science in School has several article about microscale chem: Quick, Quantitative Chemistry, Little Wonder, Electrolysis, Precipitates, etc.  Did you know you can do several micro-scale experiments with toilet paper?  Another good source is the SSERC Secondary Chemistry YouTube videos.  There are micro-scale demos.  

Use the articles, kits, images, and lessons for inspiration.  Look at the contents of the QSL MicroChem kit,  the HST MicroChemistry Kit, and Apologia’s MicroCHEM kit (a close kin to the QSL kit).  The Flinn Scientific YouTube Video collection has an excellent overview video. Flinn is selling product. Try the Royal Society of Chemistry YouTube Videos, in which the science teacher demonstrates a reaction on a  transparency sheet (acetate sheet).

Why are the labs so hard to find?  Microscale Chemistry was introduced in the late 1990s; many Chemistry instructors don’t need the lessons because they are already familiar with the idea of using a pipette for Boyle’s Law lab.  I’m a little obsessed with micro-scale equipment.

I use many, many small-scale or micro-scale labs because they are cheaper and safer.  Kiddos can repeat experiments.  Next fall, I’ll post resources for Chemistry often.

Science Camp 2026: Maker Camp!

 Make Camp is June 8th-10th.  Three days are enough for ten kids under ten.  If we had the Parish Hall and a dozen teen and adult helpers, I could mange 40.  I don’t.  Even with only a small group, it takes some work to pull off Maker Camp.  We are making several toys.  Come on!  Toys are fun!  I’m excited about the Balance Board and scrap wood catapults.  I took pix of some of the materials we pulled for camp.  You can see from the under-lighted basement pix these are not AI generated.

Microscopes! Amscope is having a sale!

 Yes, I have visited this topic many, many times, as recently as this March post.   Microscopes give families so much angst!  I think many home-school families worry that they are shortchanging their kiddos in science.  Even if your teen is planning to pursue medicine, the version below is adequate.  The teens are observing and sketching microscope slides!  This isn’t Histology!

Personally, I think you should buy a digital microscope, which attaches to a laptop or Chromebook and call it a day.  Some of the cheaper digital microscopes do not work with every laptop. BTW, Amscope microscopes are a safe bet.  Period—for any type of microscope!  My teens resolve the slide’s image, snap a screenshot, and then sketch.  Isn’t that the point?

Be sure to buy an illuminated microscope.  Be sure it has a light!  I have several, beginner, battery-powered microscopes.  There is an electrical outlet shortage in our basement.  The battery-powered microscopes do anywhere!

Avoid the microscopes with mirrors or prisms.  Yes, they work well in bright light or near a window.  I feel that kiddos spend more time capturing light than observing the microscope slide.

Buy the Amscope slide set, too.  It’s a fabulous price for 50 slides!

Library of Things

 Does your library have a ‘Library of Things?’  We live near Quantico, outside Washington, D.C.; there are  14 branches.  The libraries are well equipped.  Look at the Library of Things at Fairfax!

There are all types of kits available.  We borrowed three for science camp a couple years ago.

Take a look at all the science or STEM kits available at the local library.

Decorate your science space!

 We use memes and posters to decorate our science space. Chemistry memes and science memes are exchanged regularly.  Here are free safety posters.

 

Flinn Scientific used to out free lab safety posters into orders.  Below are teacher favorites.  (I laminated two of my favorites!)

One more suggestion is to use funny pictures of animals.  I went to a conference and stayed in a college dorm.  The RA had decorated the doors with celebrity photos and the conference attendees’ names.  When I returned to the school where I taught, I made up celebrity pix for each teacher’s door.  Later, I switched to animals—mainly cute animals.  Teachers with a sense of humor got funnier pix.  (Spiders are animals.)

Science Posters

 You should download some posters!  (My EcoTank gets a workout! Use deals on Snapfish.)  Start with NASA.   NASA JPL has free posters, too. 

The Smithsonian has open access files.  Here is the image gallery.  

Science Notes has Free Laboratory Safety Signs—all public domain.  Look at Ward’s World’s posters, and  this long list of links.  Don’t forget a Periodic Table—another rabbit hole!

USGS has Water Education posters, Water Cycle Diagrams (yes, they’re different.), maps, and parks; the free download takes a while to load.  

 You may want to make your own lab safety bumper stickers.  Use Flinn Scientific’s Middle School rules or High School Rules.

Our family likes signs, magnets, memes, posters, etc.  My fridge, garage, and basement are galleries.

Make your own signs or magnets using inspiration from Etsy.

I thought this fridge magnet was perfect.  My husband, Rob, did not grow up with pets.  He has also been bitten several times by dogs.  Rob worked at a medical testing facility.  There were signs all over town, ‘Lab puppies for sale’.  Somehow both he and Paul thought the puppies were being sold for science testing.  I had to explain that Labrador retrievers are Labs.  The puppies are pets.