Put the paramecium or protist slide on the base of your compound microscope. Secure the slide on the base with the clips, and set the objectives on the lowest magnification. If you’re using an Edmentum microscope, your eye piece has a magnification of 10X. The objectives have 4X, 10X, and 40X magnification. They are multiplied together, so the total magnification is 400X on the maximum setting.

Turn the switch on the base to select the base light (instead of the upper light). Turn the objective to the lowest magnification. Move the slide around until you see the specimen, and use the coarse adjustment knob to focus. Also use the fine adjustment knobs, if your microscope has them. The protist organism you see is the entire organism.

Write down what you see (shape, size, and any structures) at the lowest magnification. Repeat with the other two objective magnifications, and record what you see under each magnification. Identify any cell structures you see.