50 Things to look at under a microscope

So you have a microscope (or are giving one to the kids for Christmas) and you're stuck on what to do next?

Here's 50 easy-to-find things to view under a microscope.

All of these can be viewed with a basic microscope without super powered lenses, though they'll often be more interesting with higher magnification.

1. Salt
2. Sugar
3. Sand (compare from different beaches, if possible)
4. Bird seed
5. Different colors of human hair (be sure to look at dyed and natural, and roots)
6. Fur from various species
7. Whiskers
8. Onion skin
9. Wings and legs of butterflies and insects (hint: look on your car grill in the summer time to find lots of species!)
10. Bread mold
11. Yeast (dry and after proofing in warm water with sugar)
12. Slice of sea sponge
13. Soil
14. Thread
15. Fingernail clippings
16. Wool
17. Dust
18. Dirt from the vacuum cleaner
19. Celery fibers
20. Dandruff
21. Torn papers of different types
22. Dryer lint
23. Coffee grounds
24. Melted snow
25. Moss
26. Various seeds
27. Bread crumbs
28. Fruit flies
29. Feathers
30. Grass
31. Chicken skin
32. Pollen (lilies have especially bright pollen)
33. Flower parts such as stamens
34. Fish scales
35. Spider web
36. Synthetic fibers
37. Fish scales
38. Plaque from teeth
39. Pond water
40. Fish tank water
41. Ladybug parts
42. Mushroom gills
43. Diatomaceous earth (finely crushed shells, sold for farm and garden uses)
44. Seaweed
45. Algae
46. Pine needles
47. Wood splinters and bark
48. Snowflakes (hint: chill slides first and take the microscope outside if possible)
49. Different types of flour (soy flour, whole wheat flour, all purpose white, etc.)
50. Ear wax (sounds gross but is very interesting to view!)

Obviously, different specimens are easier in different seasons than others. Right now is a much better time to view snow and ice crystals than pond water here in Minnesota, for instance.

Where to get slides? You can pick them up inexpensively at online stores like American Science and Surplus (note: don't order the prepared 48 slides there, they're cheaper at Amazon), Amazon.com or Rainbow Resource. You can also pick them up at most neighborhood teacher stores and science supply stores.

In a pinch, you can use the glass from small picture frames. We've even used a broken plastic CD case for a temporary slide to view something interesting that came along!

Note: If you order from the Scholastic catalog and have bonus points, they have prepared slides available for free for bonus points right now in their science section too.

Which microscope to buy? Our family prefers the nearly indestructible (made in America) Brock Magiscope. We bought ours used on eBay but the Brock website is currently running a great sale direct from the manufacturer. You can read my review of the Brock here.

Have fun!

Want to stay in the loop? Subscribe to my column to be notified when new articles are published. You can also follow my homeschool-related boards for all subjects and ages on Pinterest.

Disclosure: I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for website owners to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, amazonsupply.com, myhabit.com, and/or any other website that may be affiliated with Amazon Service LLC Associates Program.