Submitted by Gloria Ruff

Language: Spanish Unit Cultural Theme or Academic Content Area: Science Target Audience: Immersion Elementary Grade: 5 Proficiency Level: Novice High

Standards: Communication:    1.1, 1.2, 1.3 Cultures:    Connections:    3.1 Comparisons:    Communities:

Unit Timeframe:

Ten 60-minute sessions

Unit Overview:

The curriculum introduces convex and concave lenses and their role in microscopy, the use and care of a microscope, the preparation of a slide, as well as the observation of non-living and living specimens through a microscope. These lessons were designed to provide a language component to this particular unit, but would work well with any microscope units. This particular project includes a web-based project, which brings in the Spanish language. Students read about the history of the microscope and learn the names and functions of the microscope parts in Spanish. Students also view samples magnified under a microscope and describe them in the target langage. Finally, students read about different types of microscopes and desribe them in Spanish.

Context:

The core of this unit is the Robbinsdale Area Schools/Independent School District 281 science curriculum for microscopes. The district's unit consists of nine lessons, which last approximately one hour each.

General Unit References and Resources:

Independent School District 28: Grade 5 - Unit 1 - Microscopes
Contact:
Doug Jensen (Curriculum Specialist)
Education Service Center
4148 Winnetka Avenue North
New Hope, MN 55427-1288
(763) 504-8024

http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/index.html
This site offers a wide variety of pictures taken through an optical microscope.

http://www.sep.gob.mx/libros/g5/cien_nat/004.htm
This is a chapter from a fifth grade science book written for native Spanish speakers. It offers hands-on activities, as well as text written at grade level.

http://chroma.mbt.washington.edu/outreach/about.html
This is a collaborative project between the National Science Foundation, The Unversity of Washington, and molecular biotechnologists. Lessons, adaptable for upper elementary grades, resources, and booklists may all be located here.

http://personales.mundivia.es/mggalvez
Three of the four links in this unit are pages from this site. Information on environmental acitivities, as well as further teaching material is forthcoming on this site.

Links or files for unit content:     A new window will open for each lesson.

Lesson 1: The History of the Microscope
Lesson 2: The Parts of the Microscope
Lesson 3: Describing Magnified Images
Lesson 4: Different types of Microscopes
Lesson 5: Virtual Microscopes
Unit Assessment