Preparing and observing a microscope slide
I can prepare a microscope slide with a specimen of tissue, observe it using a microscope, and record my observations in a scientific line drawing.
- Year 7
Preparing and observing a microscope slide
I can prepare a microscope slide with a specimen of tissue, observe it using a microscope, and record my observations in a scientific line drawing.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- The cells that make up tissue can be viewed using a light microscope.
- A sample of tissue can be prepared on a slide to view using a microscope.
- Adding a stain can make it easier to see some parts of cells.
- Changing the magnification and focus of a light microscope enables stained cell structures to be observed.
- Observations from a light microscope can be recorded in a scientific line drawing.
Keywords
Tissue - A tissue is a group of similar cells with the same job working together.
Slide - To observe a specimen using a light microscope, we have to put a thin layer of it on a glass microscope slide.
Stain - A coloured liquid put onto a specimen so that the cells and their structures can be more easily seen with a light microscope.
Scientific line drawing - Observations from a light microscope can be recorded by making a labelled scientific line drawing.
Common misconception
Producing a line drawing with sketched broken lines, shading, no labelling and no magnification.
Learning cycle 2 in this lesson explores how to produce a scientific line drawing to record observations from light microscopy.
Content guidance
- Risk assessment required - equipment
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.A is a piece of equipment that is used to see things that are very small.
Q2.Which parts of the microscope magnify an image?
Q3.Which is not a part of a microscope?
Q4.Which action would you take to increase the magnification of this image (to make the individual cells appear larger)?
Q5.A student set up a microscope with 10x eyepiece and a 40x objective lenses. What is the total magnification?
Q6.A is a piece of curved glass that focuses and magnifies light.
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which piece of apparatus is not used to prepare an onion tissue slide?
Q2.Match the apparatus to its job in preparing a microscope slide.
Q3.Starting with a glass slide, put these stages in the correct order for preparing a microscope slide.
Q4.The chemical that is placed on a specimen so that it can been seen easily is called a...
Q5.Which features should be altered in this scientific line drawing to improve it?
