Crystals Through the Microscope; What's That Through the Microscope?

Warren Hatch, an elementary school teacher in Los Angeles, is doing something wonderful. Collecting specimens from mail-order (an ant farm), nearby Echo Park (snail eggs), and his own apartment (potato chips), Hatch looks at a whole slew of items through new eyes: the lens of the microscope. Videotaping the results at different magnifications, and commenting on the scientific aspects of each slide, Hatch's video programs are aimed at introducing elementary students to a whole new world of wonder. Crystals Through the Microscope looks at crystals formed by 39 agents or combinations, ranging from vitamin C to chromium potassium sulfate. As the crystals form in jagged icicle formations or 3-D rectangles, Hatch offers scientific tidbits in the overlaid narration. Other crystal-producing chemicals shown include: malic acid, nickel chloride, rock salt, and zinc acetate. What's That Through the Microscope? looks at 25 different items, from a compact disc to swimming Planaria (flatworms). Other sights include: carrots (which, magnified, look gray), bean weevils, a ballpoint pen tip, and a paper wasp (who performs an interesting juggling act with her nest). Each of the items is shown as part of a guessing game, though some of these would be way too hard to guess. Production-wise, these programs are not very spiffy, and the narration is sometimes spotty (there are some quiet stretches), but I loved the idea. This would be best-suited for use by elementary school teachers. Recommended, with some reservations about the production quality. A sequel, What's That Through the Microscope? #2 (which includes a magnified page from Wilson Library Bulletin!) is also available for $20. Older titles include: Seeds Through a Microscope, Sand Through a Microscope, and Spiders and Mites Through a Microscope. (R. Pitman)