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Microscope's as windows to God's Glory - 6/23/2009 8:42:07 AM
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TMeeks
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Joined: 1/27/2007
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It almost pains me to know that most people see the microscope as something that they need to complete a lesson plan. It's brought out when the cirriculum calls for it and put away for months at a time.
But, to me, a microscope is a window to a world that demonstrates God's Glory in a unique and fascinating way. It's a bit like Horton, in Horton Hears a Who, in that peering into a microscope allows us to realize that not only are there beautiful microscopic creatures everywhere around us. But, complete systems that work together to form a little microbiotic world. And, without that world we could not exist.
God is the God of the smallest as well as the God of the largest. And, the microscope is the portal through which we can enjoy His Glory in a very special way.
Summer is an especially good time to play with a microscope. And, unless I am wrong, those times when you and your child simply take out the scope to enjoy what's around you will be the most memorable minutes with microscope in hand.
Again, my favorite type of microscope is really a very low power one... just 20x... and, I wish it were just 10x. If you can find the C&A Scientific iExplore Stereo microscope (Model SMD-04), I know that it will give you and your child many, many hours of wonder. At my daughter's house, one is always nearby ready to grab when something catches their attention. Sunday, they discovered mold on a strawberry and believe it or not, even mold can show the Glory of God when magnified! 
_____________________________
http://focusonliberty.blogspot.com
Is "Left" vs. "Right" really accurate?- Check out the Liberty Dial!
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RE: Microscope's as windows to God's Glory - 6/28/2009 10:45:45 PM
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TMeeks
Posts: 1591
Joined: 1/27/2007
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quote:
ORIGINAL: judii1
The question for me is what kind of microscope to buy. We have an old one that probably won't work very well. I think it's from Kmart.
We need one that Ds can use for biology next year. I don't want to spend $$$$ right now.
I could oprobably pull out the old one and see how good it works.
BTW, gs wanted a box of strawberries from the store. He found mold on one of them and had to take it back right away. Guess I should have pulled out the old microscope instead.
ETA I pulled out the old microscope. It's 100x,200x,300x. It's so old it only has a mirror underneath it and it was made in Japan. If I can get some kind of light for it, I'm going to let gs try to use it.
My favorite scope is a low power stereo microscope for grade school children and parents that simply want their child to learn to love science. These scopes will be put to use over and over and over. I noticed that my grandchildren each had theirs out on a table where they'd been looking at something last week. I cannot begin to tell you how much use one of this type of scope will get in a lifetime.
However, the most common microscope for fulfilling the requirements of biology would be a compound microscope. And, while they will be used less than a low power stereoscope, if you choose a good one it WILL be used.
But, in choosing one, a parent is faced with long-term vs. short-term goals and cost vs. features. I tend to see microscopes as lifetime investments since at 65 I still have every single microscope I have owned since in the 7th grade. My first was the type you have now.
Unfortunately, microscopes have a heavy markup if you buy them through the normal homeschool supply sources. But, if you look around you can find similar scopes for a lot less. I purchase a lot of C&A Scientific Scopes and their optics are very good for the money. I just pulled one out today to loan to a neighbor child for the summer. It is the MS-01 which is available at a terrific price from Sam's Club online. Without the mechanical stage Sam's is selling it for $95.88.
But, I prefer a mechanical stage which can be added for about $20 or so.
In my opinion, the MS-03 is an even better value for the mechanical stage is included and it has FOUR DIN objectives reaching 1000x. Sam's has that for $141.12. If this fits your budget, the MS-03 is the one I'd suggest of the two.
If it would be helpful to anyone I can go through the options when choosing a scope so that you can get a better idea if a feature is worth the extra bucks. Just let me know.
_____________________________
http://focusonliberty.blogspot.com
Is "Left" vs. "Right" really accurate?- Check out the Liberty Dial!
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