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

In this lesson package, students explore nature using microscopes. They learn about ecosystems and recreate an ecosystem in a container. An ecosystem can be, for example, a ditch, a forest, or a field. In an ecosystem, different plants and animals live together, and it also consists of non-living materials such as water and soil. Conditions such as temperature, light, soil, and moisture influence the ecosystem. To observe everything properly, students need a microscope or a magnifying glass.

Educational materials

Lesson 1: The first lesson begins with a short discussion about how microscopes and other instruments were invented and further developed, and the role they play in discoveries. In this lesson, students practice using these instruments.

Lesson 2: The second lesson focuses on what an ecosystem is. Students collect plants, animals, soil, and water to create their own ecosystem, for example a small forest, a ditch, or a marsh. Through this, students discover the influence of the four elements, the food web, and the cycle of matter.

Lesson 3: In the third lesson, students come up with a research question about ecosystems. They investigate which part of the ecosystem they want to study further—the conditions, the plants, or the animals—using the accompanying worksheets.

Lesson 4: In the fourth and final lesson, students use the information they have collected for the final assignment and work together to create an information sheet about the ecosystem.

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.