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Many Brazilian schools do not have a complete laboratory or even a microscope for Biology classes. In order to minimize the negative impacts of this scenario on science education, this work adapted a homemade microscope and tested its effectiveness to teach basic cytology. Thus, we conducted two workshops composed of assembling the adapted microscope, observing cells and evaluating the effectiveness of the adopted pedagogical procedures. Both workshops were held in August 2019 on the premises of the Federal Institute of Brasília. The proposed adaptations made the homemade microscope more practical and functional, which facilitated its handling and the quick observation of the biological samples analyzed. Regarding the effectiveness of this resource to teach cytological concepts, there were variations in performance between the two groups evaluated, with high school participants obtaining better results after the workshop. Additionally, there was a greater involvement of the participants due to the various questions asked and the intense curiosity and attention during the two workshops. Finally, it is suggested the application of the present teaching resource in schools without microscopes to improve the quality of scientific education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]