Levenhuk LabZZ M1 Plus Microscope is designed for young explorers of the microcosm. With this microscope young scientists will take their first steps in science. The supplied kit includes everything needed for this purpose: easy-to-use microscope, prepared microscope slides, and special tools for working with microscope samples. Kids can manage the instrument independently and explore amazing structures of everyday things.

Levenhuk LabZZ M1 Plus Microscope is equipped with a lower illuminator that allows observations of transparent microscope samples. The range of available samples includes any ready-to use microscope slides, life in a water drop, and many other things. The illuminator is rotatable – one side has a mirror (used in sufficient daytime lighting), and the other side has an incandescent lamp. This lamp is powered by 2 AA batteries (not included).

Besides observing ready-to-use slides included in the package, kids can also create their own slides. A sample is just placed in the center of a blank slide, fixed, and then covered with a cover glass. The most interesting specimens can be kept for future observations.

Levenhuk LabZZ M1 Plus Microscope produces three fixed magnifications: 100x, 200x and 300x. You can choose your desired magnification step by rotating the microscope’s revolving nosepiece. Sharpness is adjusted with a separate knob. The stage is equipped with special metal clips that hold the studied specimen in place during observations.

Features:

• Simple model designed especially for children
• Lenses made of high-quality optical plastic
• Magnification up to 300x
• Battery-powered illumination
• Lightweight plastic body
• Experiment kit included

The kit includes:

• Microscope
• Eyepiece
• Pipette
• Prepared slides (2 pcs)
• Blank slides (2 pcs)
• Cover slips (5 pcs)
• Slide stickers (5 pcs)
• Glue
• Sea salt

  
  
  

  Paramecium caudatum - your first friend from the microworld

  11/21/2016

  Paramecium caudatum is perhaps one of the first protozoans that a young naturalist would explore. These organisms live in fresh standing water. They can also be found in an aquarium, especially if it hasn’t been cleaned for a long time. My ciliate-shoes were taken from the aquarium. Of course, there are only a few ciliate-shoes in aquarium water – the possibility of finding one of them in your microscope’s eyepiece is extremely low. Therefore, we need to increase their concentration. To do so, take a jar (about 17 fluid ounces or 0.5 liters), fill it with aquarium water, put a small spoiled onion and banana peel inside. Put the jar in a warm dark place for 5 to 7 days (don’t close it with a lid).

  
  
  
  

  Paramecium caudatum. Animation. Magnification: 64x.

  
  
  

  The average size of Paramecium caudatum is 0.02 inches (0.5 mm). For locomotion Paramecium caudatum uses its cilia (about 15 thousand cilia cover its little body!). Moreover, it has two nuclei (a large macronucleus is responsible for nutrition, respiration, metabolism, etc.; and a small micronucleus – for reproduction). Paramecium caudatum feeds on bacteria or algae. The food is caught by an oral groove covered in cilia and then goes to the cell mouth. It is then digested in the digestive vacuole (gullet). Undigested leftovers are ‘thrown out in the open’ through an anal pore (cytoproct). To remove all excess water, our heroine has two contractile vacuoles. They work like pumps on a boat, pumping excess water out of its body. Paramecium caudatum maintains its slipper-like shape thanks to a special membrane (pellicle).

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

  Study this image to learn all parts of Paramecium.