Using a Microscope - Students are introduced to a real microscope and use it to look at various objects. 4 URLs Variety of Life - Students use microscopes to examine the protozoa, rotifers, nematodes, and other organisms they find in pond water. Domains and Kingdoms - Organisms are classified by their degree of relatedness. The latest classification scheme divides all living organisms into three domains and many kingdoms. Fungi - Students study fungi as an example of one of the many kingdoms in the domain Eucarya.
Activities involve the microscopic examination of mushrooms and yeast.
Decomposition - Students build a decomposition column and, using a microscope, examine the microorganisms growing in it. Over the course of many months, all organic material in the column is composted into humus. Local time and standard time are defined. Ratio - The ratio of the length to width of a rectangle is studied as an example of a characteristic property. Students discover that all rectangles with the same length to width ratio are similar.