DIY Smart Phone Microscope

This is an astonishingly simple and inexpensive way to build a microscope that allows students to capture digital images of the world just beneath the surface. This project was originally published on the Instructables website.

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Grade Range: 3 to 12+

Duration: 2-4 Hours

Supplies:

  • 3x 4 ½” x 5/16” Carriage bolts
  • 9x 5/16” Nuts3x 5/16” wing nuts
  • 5x 5/16” Washers
  • ¾” x 7” x 7” Plywood — for the base
  • ⅛” x 7” x 7” Plexiglass — for the camera stage
  • ⅛” x 3” x 7” Plexiglass — for the specimen stage
  • Scrap plexi (~ 2″x 4″) for specimen slide (optional but useful)
  • Laser pointer focus lens (use two for increased magnification)
  • LED click light (necessary only for viewing backlit specimens

Tools:

  • Drill
  • Assorted bits
  • Ruler
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Download this lesson and many others!

Includes NGSS Standards and Student Worksheets

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    DIY Smart Phone Microscope

    This is an astonishingly simple and inexpensive way to build a microscope that allows students to capture digital images of the world just beneath the surface. This project was originally...

    DIY Smart Phone Microscope

    This is an astonishingly simple and inexpensive way to build a microscope that allows students to capture digital images of the world just beneath the surface. This project was originally...

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