The Earliest Microscopes

by Kristin Gabel

This case study situates students in the 1600s when the first microscopes appeared. Images by Robert Hooke provide inspiration for the student's own observations and explorations of the technical aspects of this new instrument (lighting, magnification). They also encounter the challenges of recording information visually — and how that once helped pay for science. Major NOS elements include:

• role of instruments
• role of visual rendering (scientific communication)
• role of funding/patronage

Open outline and bibliography. || Open teacher's historical notes for each day.