Gwen Riles wrote this chant to help students learn the parts of the microscope.
Parts of the Microscope
What is a microscope, and what does it mean?
A microscope’s a science tool that helps you see.
Micro means small and scope means look.
Look at the picture on page 3 of our book
Our simple microscope has just nine parts.
Turning on the power switch is where it all starts.
If you want to see, you’ve got to have light.
The light source has a bulb that shines so bright.
Light by itself won’t make a little thing look large.
For that we put the objective lens in charge.
What are we looking at and where does it go?
The stage is the place for the action, you know.
Why are there stage clips on the stage you ask?
They hold down the slide, which is a piece of glass.
The diaphragm has holes to let light through.
Look through the eyepiece is what you do.
Turn the focus knobs to get a clear view.
What you see may look strange and new.
Turn the coarse focus knob if the picture’s very blurry
And you want to see your slide more clearly in a hurry.
Turn the fine focus knob to see your slide best.
Now you’re a scientist, just like the rest.
(target vocabulary: power switch, light source, objective lens, stage, stage clips, diaphragm, eyepiece, coarse focus knob, fine focus knob; slide)