What to Look at Under a Microscope: 30 Ideas for the Garden (Even in Winter)
The Parents Behind Kideo
“So what do we look at?” That's often the first question once the microscope is unboxed. Here are 30 ideas for the garden, walks and even the kitchen, sorted by place. Some come from our mission cards, others from parents who write to us.
In a Nutshell: 3 Tips for Successful Observation
A motionless subject
A leaf, a feather or some salt give beautiful images right away. Bugs that scurry around can wait.
A soft light
In the shade or near a window: the screen is easier to read and the image is sharper.
Start Small
Start at the lowest magnification, frame the shot, and then gradually zoom in using the scroll wheel.
On the groundOn plantsSmall creaturesWinter SpecialIn the kitchen, when it rainsOn yourselfThe Weekend Challenge
On the ground
Just crouch down.
Damp moss
A small forest of tiny leaves, sometimes with water droplets clinging to them.
On our cards
A pebble
Grains of every color and tiny sparkling flecks.
Sand
Each grain has its own shape and color: they look like candies.
From the earth
Pieces of roots, leaves, and sometimes a tiny little creature.
A pinecone
Scales arranged in a spiral, like a staircase.
On plants
Leaf veins are the easiest show to get right.
A blade of grass
Straight lines, all parallel.
On our cards
A small green leaf
A network of veins that looks like a road map.
On our cards
A rose petal
A velvety surface, like a colorful rug.
On our cards
The center of a daisy
Hundreds of tiny flowers clustered closely together.
From the bark
Crevasses, mountains, and often green or orange lichen.
Lichen
Little cups and branches that look like coral.
One idea per card
The 44 mission cards
You draw a card, go find what's on it, and examine it under a microscope. That's what keeps the child’s interest in the microscope beyond the first few days: there’s always a new mission.
The ideas marked “On our cards” in this article are among them.
See the cardsLittle Creatures
We watch without touching, then let them go.
A woodlouse
It has a ringed shell, and sometimes it curls up into a ball.
On our cards
An ant
Its antennae and jointed legs (easier when it stops).
On our cards
A little spider, or its web
The silk threads and the clinging dewdrops.
On our cards
An earthworm
Its shiny body, made of rings.
On our cards
A butterfly wing found on the ground
Thousands of colorful scales, like roof tiles.
Winter Special
The cold brings its own treasures.
Frost on a leaf
Needles and ice stars.
A snowflake on a dark glove
Its six-pointed shape (you have to work fast).
The ice on a puddle
Trapped air bubbles and cracks.
A tree bud
Tightly closed scales that protect the developing leaf.
A feather you found
The barbs hooked together like a zipper.
In the kitchen, when it's raining
The kitchen cupboard is a place to explore too.
Salt
Small, almost perfect cubes.
Sugar
Transparent crystals that sparkle.
Flour
A powder that turns into a landscape of white dust.
On our cards
Loose-leaf tea
Leaves curled up on themselves, with their veins showing.
On our cards
The skin of a strawberry or a kiwi
Seeds and hairs that you can never see with the naked eye.
About Yourself
Finally, we observe ourselves.
A strand of hair
It's not smooth at all—it has scales.
Your fingertip
The lines of your fingerprint, unique in the world.
The wool of your sweater
Twisted fibers that intertwine.
A coin
Tiny engraved details we'd never noticed before.
The Weekend Challenge
Find and take pictures of these 5 things before Sunday night. Then, we'll compare the photos, and everyone will draw their favorite one in their sketchbook.
- Something rough
- Something that shines
- Something Green
- Something that's alive (and that we let go)
- Something from the kitchen
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the image blurry?
Most of the time, the subject is moving or the focus is off. Place the microscope flat against what you are observing, choose a stationary subject, and gently turn the focus knob until the image becomes sharp.
How can you observe an insect without harming it?
Leave it where it is, or place it in a well-ventilated insect box just long enough to take a quick look, then release it back where you found it. The easiest way is to look for clues the little creatures leave behind, such as a web or a feather.
What can you see at high magnification?
With a pocket microscope, the best images are obtained at low and medium magnifications, when viewing whole objects: a leaf, a feather, salt, or fabric. To see cells, you need prepared slides and a laboratory microscope.
Happy exploring,
The parents behind Kideo
