Microscope Advice? (High School Level)

Tagged: 

Viewing 4 posts - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)
  • Author
    Posts
  • May 5, 2015 at 12:23 pm
    Angelina
    Participant

    Hi all, can I get some opinions?

    For those who did Apologia’s High School level science courses (and other high school level courses), did you all spend the $300+ for a “serious” microscope?    Is this item a “nice-to-have” or a “need-to-have” during the high school homeschool years?  DS12 is expressing interest in science and medicine, though we’ll have to see whether the interest continues once the really hard work hits 🙂  Granted, I’ve got plenty of time to figure out my high school science plan, but just wondering if I definitely NEED to budget for a serious microscope.

    The only microscope I’ve look at so far (the only one in my local homeschool supplier’s catalogue) is described as follows:  “The 131 microscope is full size (14 1/8″ tall), has both coarse and fine focusing controls and features tungsten illumination… and full size DIN optical system.  Stage:  Large 110mm wide by 120mm deep stage with locked on stage clips.”

    Opinions and advice most welcome! Angie

    May 5, 2015 at 1:57 pm
    retrofam
    Participant

    homeschoolscopes.com is very popular where I live. Larry Winkleman has repaired  and sold used microscopes for years.

    May 5, 2015 at 4:18 pm
    Bookworm
    Participant

    I do think getting a real microscope, as opposed to the “toy” types, is valuable enough to invest in, especially if you do not have access to one in a co-op and if you have more than one child.  I think a good, solid, decent one of any brand would be fine.  In other words, I don’t think there’s just “one” good microscope.  I think you’ll need to spend at least $150 or so to get a decent one.  Look for a good lighting source, good controls and everything else is gravy.  If you have many children with eye problems, one “upgrade” that may be worth the money is binocular eyepieces.  Fancier bells and whistles are just that.  If you can afford it, great.  I started with descriptions at hometrainingtools and ended up balancing the best features we could with what I had to spend.

    May 6, 2015 at 5:53 am
    Angelina
    Participant

    Thanks for the replies.   And thanks, Bookworm, for suggesting I consider my children’s respective vision problems in my choice for a microscope.   I have four children, 2 in glasses at the moment and looking like my youngest will be soon.   Good to know that I may be wise to choose my features in a microscope carefully and with this in mind.

     

Viewing 4 posts - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)
  • The topic ‘Microscope Advice? (High School Level)’ is closed to new replies.