Science: it’s Instrumental!Science Indicator Project

By Rosanna SartoreFor Education 373

Standard 4.1.5

Demonstrate how measuring instruments, such as microscopes, telescopes, and cameras, can be used to gather accurate information for making scientific comparisons of objects and events. Note that measuring instruments, such as rulers, can also be used for designing and constructing things that will work properly.

Background Information

History of the Microscope› The first microscopes were really just

magnifying glasses with a single lens› The first compound microscope

(microscope with more than one lens) was made around 1590 by two spectacle makers experimenting with lenses.

› Today, microscope inventors would be surprised by the quality yet affordable microscopes that are available in schools.

An early microscope used in medicine

Background Information

History of the Telescope› In 1608, an inventor discovered that

holding 2 lenses apart would produce greater magnification, but his patent was denied.

› Soon after, Galileo played with this idea and began studying the heavens and space

› In 1668, Newton created the first mirrored telescope, which was able to magnify to a much greater extent than lens-based telescopes.

Telescope from the 1600s

Background Information

History of the Camera› In 1837, the first fixed image was created by

artist Louis Jacques Mande Daguerre. They were called Daguerreotypes.

› In 1888, the Kodak roll film camera was developed.

› In 1927, General Electric created the first flash bulb, which allowed photos to be taken in dark conditions.

› In 1968, the first “out of this world” photo was taken from the moon. It shows the Earth.

First camera image ever

Background Information

Resources used. These can also be links to find more information if you are interested in a particular measuring instrument:› http://www.microscope-microscope.org/bas

ic/microscope-history.htm› http://www.antiquespectacles.com/telesco

pes/telescopes.htm› http://www.antiquetelescopes.org/history.h

tml› http://library.thinkquest.org/04oct/01824/

Now that you know history…

Take out your work page. Pick one measuring instrument you just

read about. How would life be different if we did not

have this measuring instrument? Write at least 6 sentences explaining

how life would be different.

After writing…

It’s experiment time! Take out bag #1 and write a description for

the object inside. Take no more than 60 seconds and only use your work page, a pen or pencil, and your brain.

Place the object inside the box lid. Repeat for objects in bag #2 and bag #3. Find a parent, sibling, neighbor or friend.

After finding a helper…

Give your work page with descriptions to your parent, sibling, neighbor, or friend.

This person will try to decide which object matches which description.

Watch the person, but do not give them help or hints. They must try to figure out the answer using only the description you have already written.

Now see if they were right…

Once the helper had made their choice, see if the person was right or not.

Next, Write a short reflection that answers the following questions:› Did the helper guess the correct objects?

Why or why not?› Do you think your descriptions were

accurate? What could have made them more accurate?

Last Step…

Use some of the measuring instruments in the box to examine the objects you described. What information could you add to your description to make it more clear and scientific? Write it down on your work page.

Final Reflection: If you wrote these descriptions from the beginning, what impact would it have had on your experiment? Would it be harder or easier? Name at least one other measuring instrument that could be used to gather data.

Once you go home…

Visit www.rmsartore.pbworks.com Comment on this project. What did you

like best? What did you like least? What did you learn?

Check out the following sites if you want more information. › http://www.kidskonnect.com/subject-index/15-

science/86-inventors-a-inventions.html to learn more about inventors, such as those who helped invent the telescope.

› http://chalk.richmond.edu/education/projects/webunits/measurement/index.htm to learn about more measurement tools.