What you’ll need
- A small jar kept for samples
- A pipette or dropper
- A blank glass slide and coverslip
- Absorbent paper
- Gloves
Collect water and material around plants
Collect some pond water, algae, and loose material around plants in a small jar. The jar can contain bits of plants and debris: you are looking for what lives among them, not just in clear water. Keep it out of direct sun and look at it while it is fresh.
Avoid suspected harmful blooms or water under an algae advisory. Wear gloves when collecting and preparing samples, and wash your hands afterward.
Put a small sample on a slide
A slide is the glass rectangle that holds the sample. Use a pipette—a small dropper—to place one small drop from the jar in its center. Include a little algae or plant material. The jar can hold plenty of material, but a thick clump on the slide can hide what is underneath.
Add the coverslip and take a look
A coverslip is the small, thin piece of glass that goes over the drop. Hold it by its edges, touch one edge to the water, and slowly lower the other side to push air out. Do not press on the glass. If water spills out, touch absorbent paper to an edge to soak up the extra; add a little water beside an edge if it starts drying.
Your slide is ready to view. Start with the lowest magnification, usually the lens marked 4×. Need help focusing your slide? Follow the microscope setup and focusing steps.
Put broken slides or coverslips in a puncture-resistant container rather than loose in the bin.