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Using a Replica of Leeuwenhoek's Microscope to Teach the History of Science and to Motivate Students to Discover the Vision and the Contributions of the First Microscopists

Lenira M.N. Sepel^*,, Elgion L.S. Loreto^*,, and João B.T. Rocha^,

*Departmento de Biologia (Centro de Ciências Naturais e Exatas)-Universidade Federal de Santa Maria; Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil; Programa de Pós Graduação Educação em Ciências: Química da Vida e Saúde (Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, and Universidade Federal do Rio Grande); and Departmento de Química (Centro de Ciências Naturais e Exatas)-Universidade Federal de Santa Maria; Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Monitoring Editor: Jeff Hardin

Address correspondence to: Lenira M.N. Sepel (lenirasepel{at}gmail.com).

The history of science should be incorporated into science teaching as a means of improving learning and also to increase the students' understanding about the nature of science. In biology education, the history of microscopy deserves a special place. The discovery of this instrument not only opened a new and fantastic microworld but also led to the development of one unifying principle of biological sciences (i.e., cell theory). The microscopes of Leeuwenhoek and Hooke opened windows into the microworld of living organisms. In the present work, the knowledge of these themes was analyzed in a group of students beginning an undergraduate biology course. Our data suggest that the history of microscopy is poorly treated at the secondary school level. We propose a didactic activity using a replica of Leeuwenhoek's microscope made with Plexiglas and a lens obtained from a key chain laser pointer or from a broken CD drive. The proposed activity motivated students to learn about microscopy and helped them to appreciate scientific knowledge from a historical perspective.