Ordering class sets of prepared slides can be pricey. Want a fun and free way to make your own? All you need are some slides, clear tape, and some animal hair samples. Put a few pieces of hair on a slide and carefully cover it with clear tape. A couple tips:
(Below: Left image is human hair, Right image is cat hair)
Another way to get some unusual hair samples is by checking with your local game and fish department. In Arizona our Game and Fish department has skull and pelt boxes that they loan to schools for free. I had borrowed the skull box for my ecology unit and had my students compare skulls of different animals. While I had the box, I also plucked a hair or two off the pelts and made prepared slides. It was fun to look at mountain lion, bear, and coyote hair in addition to the everyday pets.
Have you made prepared slides for specimens other than hair? I'd love to hear about it! Leave it in the comments!
6 Comments
12/26/2017 01:17:37 am
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irene
5/30/2018 08:11:21 am
hi, so interesting I will do it with my learners this Friday.
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Becca
6/1/2018 10:43:13 pm
Good luck! I hope they enjoy it! 10/29/2018 12:18:09 pm
There are some interesting points in time in this article but I don’t know if I see all of them center to heart. There is some validity but I will take hold opinion until I look into it further. Good article, thanks and we want more! Added to Feed Burner as well
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Christa
8/4/2019 12:13:30 pm
I haven't tried the tape but love that idea for students to create their own. Had heard the super glue would turn yellow over time so I used the clear nail polish and it has lasted many years. Didn't have access to many pelts but sent a request for fur samples to all staff in the building. Many brought in fur from pets; some even got it off roadkill. The response was overwhelming and now I have enough fur samples to last a lifetime.
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9/10/2019 03:37:20 am
I am so grateful for your blog post.Really looking forward to read more. Really Great.
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