Comparing Cells

Observe various plant and animal cells under a microscope.

Part 1: Microscope Introduction 

Read the entire Microscope Use document.

Do the "Getting to Know the Microscope" Assignment questions 1-6 plus the labeled diagram and have a teacher sign before moving on to the 2nd half of the page.

Then carefully follow directions to do the 2nd half of the page using the microscope (teacher needs to sign the bottom half of the completed page before you move on).

Part 2: Look at Cells in Microscope 

As a class, projected from the teacher microscope through the ELMO, look at white fish and then root tip cells on prepared slides. View all cells through low, medium & high.  

• While you observe each cell, draw labeled diagrams in the "White Fish" and "Root" sections of the Comparing Cells assignment.

Then, with your group, look at amoeba cells on prepared slides under the microscope. Make sure that people setting up microscopes have completed and received two teacher initials on "Getting to Know the Microscope". 

• Draw a labeled diagram in the "Ameoba" section of the Comparing Cells assignment.

Then, learn from the teacher how to prepare wet slides with cover slips. Prepare and observe moss, cheek, and onion cells. 

• For all cells, do labeled diagrams & responses on the Comparing Cells assignment.

To help everyone, and particularly people who were absent or did not finish, after the activity, view the Comparing Cells Pictures PowerPoint (also consider viewing it before or in the early part of when you are looking at cells in the microscope to get a sense of what you're looking at).  Slide 1=amoeba, slide 2=cheek cells, slide 3=moss cells, slide 4=onion cells, slide 5=air bubbles.

If extremely short on time, consider running rotations in the classroom where each group prepares and gets in focus one of the cells on the Comparing Cells assignment then all groups rotate through.

Here are instructions for preparing the cheek, moss, and onion slides.

Comparing Cells Extension 1 (*): Food Cells in the Microscope

Banana:

Smear tiny bit of banana on slide, put drop of iodine on one side of banana, roll cover slip on, then put paper towel and it pulls iodine through (if too dark, pull water through).  The iodine stains the nucleus and cell wall.

Borrow microscope adapter from Mr. Schmidt to show on projector.