Do you remember the first time you looked into a microscope? What was it you saw? A young person’s first introduction to the world under magnification is usually a profound and memorable experience. Thankfully, microscopes these days are affordable enough to have one at home – ready and waiting for curious minds. Give your kids some hands-on experience in visual analysis, note-taking and the scientific method with these great picks for microscopes.
Great accessories
This beginner’s microscope set from AmScope is designed to give kids some hands-on experience with slides, covers and other scientific gear. We’d like all of the technical specs – monocular viewing head, built-in color filter wheel, etc. – but all you really need to know is that this set is durable, stain-resistant, comes in a carrying case and is lots of fun.
Designed for preschoolers
Wow, a talking microscope? Where was this when we were kids? This microscope has up-close images along with the voice of Bindi Irwin, the Australian conservationist who is also the daughter of the late TV personality Steve Irwin. The audio is available in English, Spanish, French and German. Also included are 60 images and two modes of play – fact mode and quiz mode. All in all, it’s definitely one of the more unique microscopes available on the market.
Two microscopes in one
It’s no surprise this microscope is so popular – the National Geographic name alone lends a lot of credibility. But beyond the brand, there’s a lot to love here. The dual-function light system is obviously a big selling point, but we also like that there’s a learning guide included (telling the history of microscopes and explaining the kit’s experiments in detail). More than 50 accessories also are part of the set along with a complete brine shrimp experiment. (Remember when we called those “Sea Monkeys” in our youth?)
Three magnification settings
When you’re ready to graduate to the next step of microscopes, this model from BEBANG is one to strongly consider. It will fit in nicely in a school, lab or at home. It features coarse/fine focusing knobs that ensure precise adjustments. The top and bottom LED lights offer high-resolution, color-corrected images. And the metal frame is durable and built to last.
Steve Spears is editor of Florida Travel & Life, an online brand that inspires active, affluent travelers, providing them with insider information on discovering the best of Florida. Informative and engaging, the website showcases travel destinations, arts and cultural venues, vibrant dining scenes, recreational activities, the great outdoors and the revitalized real-estate market. He is based in Orlando and counts St. Augustine, Key West and the Gulf Beaches among his favorite destinations in the state.
