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.
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.
put the specimen on
to see the specimen more clearly
to place over the specimen
to hold the tissue and cover slip
to lower the cover slip slowly
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?
