Just back from Plant Biomechanics Conference at MSU. One session was on teaching biomechanics at HS or under=grad level.

An interesting technique for studing the structure of a leaf surface is to put some super glue on a slide, quickly put the side of leaf surface you want to study in the glue and put 2nd slide on top. Clamp together with a high tech device called a clothes pin. When glu dries (pretty quick with super glue) remove clotthes pin, cover slide and leaf. A perfect imprint in 3D of the surface is cast in super glue attached to the bottom slide. Light passes through easily. Use naked eye or low power magnification. I suppose high power too for some details.