Microscopes!

We set up 3 microscopes in the Luang Prabang library last weekend. It was the first time the staff at the library and the students had ever looked through a microscope.

We started with some prepared slides, a piece of microfilm with the letters ABC. It is an easy way for the students to learn how to use the focus knob and get comfortable gently moving the slides side to side.

The students teach each other how to switch between top-lighting and through-lighting, and how to rotate through the objective lenses. Students teaching each other is an important part of the Village Science pedagogy, read more at Village Science Pedagogy.

They quickly look through the rest of the prepared slides and we move on making our own slides. The structure of a leaf becomes a whole new world where veins and cells become visible and ribs are covered in tiny hairs. A 5,000 kip note becomes a contest to find the tiny hidden text used to combat counterfeiters. Students take turns plucking hair from each other and making jokes about who took a shower today and who didn't. Looking at ants is usually everyone's favorite when they can see the mandibles and leg joints.

The students are curious to look at their blood and the bacteria on their hands but we're saving those experiments for next time.

Thanks to Anne Xuan Clark for helping with teaching and running for supplies as needed. Thanks Annie!