Download the free educational material 'Zoom: Light on Small', developed in collaboration with Nikon. The package consists of multiple lessons in which students explore the fascinating world of small things. They investigate how life, survival, and coexistence work through the themes of ecosystems, plants, and animals
Introduction
The material contains a series of three themes. Each theme includes background information and a worksheet. In small groups, students work with the worksheets. They go outside to search for various insects, plants, and litter, and investigate these (for example, by observing them under a microscope). The project can optionally be concluded by creating a poster to share their findings with each other.
If your school participates in Eco-Schools, this project aligns especially well with the Eco-Schools theme of ‘nature’. However, even for schools that are not (yet) part of Eco-Schools, Zoom: Light on Small is a highly suitable and interactive way to explore this theme with students
Content educational materials
- Introduction: Collecting an ecosystem for the classroom
- Theme: Ecosystem
- Theme: Plants
- Theme: Animals
- Creating and presenting a poster
Each theme can be covered in a single lesson. It's also possible to have groups work on different themes during the same lesson, or to spend multiple lessons on a single theme if you, as the teacher, want to explore the topic in more depth. Creating and presenting the posters can also be done in one lesson.
Microscopes
Microscopes can be used alongside the teaching materials. Whether it's insects, plants, moss, litter, or soil—everything looks completely different when magnified 20 times. Several NDE (Nature and Environmental Education) centers offer field microscopes that you can borrow (including Stad en Natuur Almere, De Grote Rivieren Heerewaarden, De Papaver Delft, Hertenkamp Enkhuizen, Natuur en Milieu Overijssel, Natuur en Milieueducatie Haarlem, and Utrecht Natuurlijk).
Zoom: Light on Small has been funded by Nikon Europe.
