Science Activities With Magnifying Glasses

See if you can find small insects with your magnifying glass.

A magnifying glass acts as a light microscope. It has a single convex lens, which creates very large images of objects that are very small, such as ants and small letters. If you want your students to learn more about magnifying glasses and how they function, you can create science activities that will allow them to have fun while discovering different ways to use a magnifying glass.

Magnifying Glass Activity

Start a discussion about magnifying glasses with your students. Lay a couple of magnifying glasses on the table and allow your students to share with you how much they know about magnifying glasses. Give each student a magnifying glass and instruct them to go on an adventure, exploring small objects around your classroom. Have the students discuss what they see. Then set a small potted plant on a table and have the students gather around the table. Allow the students to first examine the small plant with their magnifying glasses and then look at it with just their eyes.

Paper Burning Activity

Burn paper with a magnifying glass. This activity requires parental or teacher supervision and should be done when the sun is high and hot, between 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Provide each student with a plain piece of paper. Have the students mark an "X" on the paper and lay the paper on the ground. Assist the students while they aim their magnifying glasses toward the "X" drawn on the piece of paper. Instruct them to keep their magnifying glasses focused and aimed at the center of the "X." After a few moments, the students will see the paper begin to burn at the spot on the "X" where they are focusing the light from the magnifying glass.

Newspaper Activity

Magnify letters on a newspaper with water. Demonstrate how to place a piece of plastic wrap over a newspaper page. Encourage the students to look at the printed letters. Have the students drop a small amount of water onto the plastic wrap, then ask them to share how the printed letters look when viewed through the water.

Fingerprint Activity

For this activity, you will need a stamp pad. Show the students how to make a fingerprint by first pressing an index finger on a stamp pad, then pressing the finger on a piece of paper to reveal their fingerprint. Encourage the students to view their fingerprints using their magnifying glasses. Have the students discuss and compare their fingerprints with the other students.

References

• "Scholastic"; Send Home Activities: Magnificent Magnification; Risa Young and Robin Smith; April 2007
• Think Quest: Solar Writing Experiment

Resources

• Florida State University: Simple Magnification