Classical Microscopy Programme of Investigations

The following programme outlines a sequence of observational investigations designed to develop skill with the microscope while exploring the structure and diversity of microscopic life.

Series 0 - Basic Discipline with the Instrument

No.	Investigation	Example Specimens	Typical Source	Aim
0.1	Orientation of the Microscopic Field	Stage micrometer	Prepared slide set	Understand image inversion and field orientation.
0.2	Regulation of Illumination	Prepared slide (any specimen)	Prepared slide set	Learn correct condenser focus and illumination control.
0.3	Comparison of Magnifying Powers	Stage micrometer	Prepared slide set	Compare field size and detail at different objectives.
0.4	Calibration of the Eyepiece Graticule	Stage micrometer	Prepared slide set	Establish measurement capability.
0.5	Observation of Limits of Resolution	Diatom test slide, fine fabric fibres	Prepared slide or household cloth	Observe smallest visible detail under high power.
0.6	Recording Observations	Any specimen previously examined	Any earlier specimen	Practice diagrammatic recording and labelling.

Series I - Surface & Exchange

No.	Investigation	Example Specimens	Typical Source	Aim
I.1	Examination of the Epidermis of a Leaf	Ivy (Hedera helix), privet, laurel	Garden shrub or hedge	Observe epidermal cells and surface pattern.
I.2	Observation of Stomata	Spider plant (Chlorophytum), tradescantia, lily leaf	Houseplant or garden	Study stomatal structure and gas exchange.
I.3	Examination of Plant Hairs (Trichomes)	Tomato leaf, geranium, nettle	Garden plant	Observe protective and sensory plant hairs.
I.4	Examination of the Wing of an Insect	Housefly, crane fly, moth wing	Indoor insect or light trap	Observe membrane structure and veins.
I.5	Observation of the Insect Cuticle	Beetle leg, ant, small fly	Garden or indoors	Study segmentation and protective exoskeleton.
I.6	Examination of the Surface of Pollen Grains	Lily, daisy, dandelion	Garden flower or meadow	Observe sculptured pollen surfaces.

Series II - Reproductive Elements

No.	Investigation	Example Specimens	Typical Source	Aim
II.1	Examination of Pollen from Flowering Plants	Lily, tulip, daisy	Garden flower or florist	Observe pollen grain structure.
II.2	Comparison of Pollen from Different Species	Grass, rose, pine pollen	Garden plants or park	Compare pollen morphology.
II.3	Observation of Fern Spores	Bracken (Pteridium), garden ferns	Woodland or garden fern	Examine sporangia and spores.
II.4	Observation of Moss Capsules	Common moss (Bryum, Funaria)	Damp wall or lawn	Study capsule and spore production.
II.5	Examination of Fungal Spores	Bread mould (Rhizopus), penicillium on fruit	Kitchen food spoilage	Observe fungal reproduction.

Series III - Support & Conduction

No.	Investigation	Example Specimens	Typical Source	Aim
III.1	Cross-Section of an Herbaceous Stem	Ivy stem, sunflower stem	Garden plant or hedge	Identify vascular bundles.
III.2	Cross-Section of a Woody Stem	Young twig of ash, elder, or hawthorn	Hedge or woodland	Observe early woody tissue.
III.3	Examination of Leaf Venation	Ivy leaf, holly leaf	Garden plant or hedge	Observe vascular network.
III.4	Observation of Plant Fibres	Celery stalk, flax fibre	Kitchen vegetable	Examine elongated support cells.
III.5	Examination of Root Structure	Onion root, young seedling roots	Kitchen onion or seedlings	Observe root tissues.

Series IV - Aquatic Microscopic Life

No.	Investigation	Example Specimens	Typical Source	Aim
IV.1	Survey of Pond Water	Pond, ditch, rainwater barrel	Pond, ditch, or water butt	Identify diverse microorganisms.
IV.2	Examination of Freshwater Algae	Filamentous algae from pond edge	Pond margin or wet stone	Observe algal cell chains.
IV.3	Observation of Diatoms	Pond water, wet stone scrapings	Pond or stream margin	Study silica frustules.
IV.4	Observation of Protozoa	Stagnant pond sample	Pond or ditch	Observe locomotion and feeding.
IV.5	Observation of Rotifers	Pond water with plant debris	Pond vegetation sample	Examine complex microscopic animals.
IV.6	Observation of Pond Micro-Ecosystem	Mature pond sample after several days	Jar culture of pond sample	Observe interactions among organisms.

Series V - Bud Structure

No.	Investigation	Example Specimens	Typical Source	Aim
V.1	Examination of Bud Scales	Horse chestnut, beech	Tree in park or woodland	Observe protective bud coverings.
V.2	Section of a Dormant Bud	Ivy bud, hawthorn bud	Garden hedge or shrub	Examine embryonic leaves.
V.3	Examination of a Developing Leaf	Opening bud of sycamore or rose	Garden plant or tree	Study leaf differentiation.
V.4	Observation of the Shoot Apex	Young shoot tip of ivy or bean plant	Garden plant or seedling	Observe meristematic growth tissue.

Series VI - Decay & Biological Recycling

No.	Investigation	Example Specimens	Typical Source	Aim
VI.1	Observation of Mould Growth	Bread mould, mouldy fruit	Kitchen food spoilage	Observe fungal hyphae.
VI.2	Examination of Decaying Leaf Tissue	Fallen leaf in compost or damp soil	Compost heap or leaf litter	Observe breakdown of plant cells.
VI.3	Observation of Fungal Spore Structures	Mould growing on citrus peel	Kitchen fruit spoilage	Study spore formation.
VI.4	Examination of Microbial Films	Slimy layer on standing water	Garden pond or water butt	Observe microbial communities.
VI.5	Observation of Soil Micro-Organisms	Garden soil suspended in water	Garden soil	Study organisms involved in decomposition.

Seasonal Calendar

The following calendar indicates periods when specimens for each of the above investigations are most readily obtained in the British Isles. Many investigations remain possible outside these periods depending on local conditions.

No.	Investigation	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
0.1	Orientation of the Microscopic Field	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
0.2	Regulation of Illumination	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
0.3	Comparison of Magnifying Powers	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
0.4	Calibration of the Eyepiece Graticule	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
0.5	Observation of Limits of Resolution	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
0.6	Recording Observations	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
I.1	Examination of the Epidermis of a Leaf			✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
I.2	Observation of Stomata			✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
I.3	Examination of Plant Hairs (Trichomes)			✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
I.4	Examination of the Wing of an Insect				✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
I.5	Observation of the Insect Cuticle				✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
I.6	Examination of the Surface of Pollen Grains			✔	✔	✔	✔
II.1	Examination of Pollen from Flowering Plants			✔	✔	✔	✔
II.2	Comparison of Pollen from Different Species			✔	✔	✔	✔
II.3	Observation of Fern Spores						✔	✔	✔	✔
II.4	Observation of Moss Capsules	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔						✔	✔
II.5	Examination of Fungal Spores	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
III.1	Cross-Section of an Herbaceous Stem			✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
III.2	Cross-Section of a Woody Stem	✔	✔	✔	✔					✔	✔	✔	✔
III.3	Examination of Leaf Venation			✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
III.4	Observation of Plant Fibres	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
III.5	Examination of Root Structure	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
IV.1	Survey of Pond Water			✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
IV.2	Examination of Freshwater Algae				✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
IV.3	Observation of Diatoms	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
IV.4	Observation of Protozoa			✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
IV.5	Observation of Rotifers			✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
IV.6	Observation of Pond Micro-Ecosystem				✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
V.1	Examination of Bud Scales	✔	✔	✔	✔							✔	✔
V.2	Section of a Dormant Bud	✔	✔	✔	✔							✔	✔
V.3	Examination of a Developing Leaf			✔	✔	✔
V.4	Observation of the Shoot Apex			✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
VI.1	Observation of Mould Growth	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
VI.2	Examination of Decaying Leaf Tissue									✔	✔	✔	✔
VI.3	Observation of Fungal Spore Structures	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
VI.4	Examination of Microbial Films			✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
VI.5	Observation of Soil Micro-Organisms	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔

Progress Through the Programme

The following investigations have been completed to date:

Series	Title	Investigations Completed To Date
0	Basic Discipline with the Instrument	6/6
I	Surface & Exchange	4/6
II	Reproductive Elements	1/5
III	Support & Conduction	1/5
IV	Aquatic Microscopic Life	0/6
V	Bud Structure	1/3
VI	Decay & Biological Recycling	0/5