Project samples

Below are 3 examples of collecting and viewing microorganisms for our microscope studies project. We can find these samples and give them an environment to grow and reproduce before we look at them under our microscope. The first two examples use a jar of water and some vegetables from our supermarket or a sample of grass and dirt from outside. The third example is taken from a home fish tank, this may require a visit to the pet store or a friend's house that has a fish tank. You will just need to scrape a little bit of green algae from the tank to explore the microorganisms found in the tank.

Sample 1 - Grass and Dirt

Our first example uses a little grass, dirt and a few leaves from outside, This first sample was taken and grown during the winter so we had to wait for a warm day to get past the snow and frost. Microorganisms can hibernate in cold times and then spring back to life after a few days or warm wet weather. Most microorganisms we will look at like to live in wet conditions, but you can still find examples in dry areas too.

We used a clean mason jar with a top and a pair of scissor or knife to collect a little grass, dirt, and leaves. Place this in the jar and fill the jar half full with regular water. You can use bottle or tap water for most of these samples, the microorganisms are usually not that picky.

Sample 2 - Vegetables

We use the same process as the grass and dirt sample, but we are looking for the dirty spots on fresh vegetables from the market. The vegetables in the market may have a little dirt leftover from the harvesting and packing steps. Many vegetables are cleaned before they are put on the shelf, but we will be looking for less processed veggies. Items like lettuce, leeks, scallions, or even herbs can have a few dormant (sleeping) microorganisms left on the surface. We will attempt to find these little dirty spots and culture the microorganisms.

Collect a few vegetables from the market or from your refrigerator and cut a few pieces to put in the clean mason jar. Cover the vegetable samples with some clean water and cover the jar.

Store the jar in a cool dark place, sunlight may slow the growth of some of these organisms. After a few days you can take an eyedropper and look at a sample of water from the jar to see if any microorganisms are reproducing. BE CAREFUL - The sample will be a little smelly after a few days, keep the jar closed and wash your hands after you take a sample from the jar.

Sample 3 - Algae

Algae is the green coating growing on the glass of fish tanks or other standing bodies of water. Most fish tank owners try to use chemicals to kill the algae and keep the fish tank clean and clear. Sometimes you has still find a little green growing even on the cleanest fish tanks, I have stopped the chemical use on my fish tank for a few weeks to collect a variety of algae. The procedure is straightforward, you can collect a sample and place it directly on a slide for viewing. Algae is a plant and will appear as individual spheres, long strings of cells and other shapes. See below for some example images taken from my dirty fish tank. You could also ask a local pet store if they could give you a little sample from one of their tanks, bring a jar as the algae needs a little water to stay alive and undamaged.