Summer Research Program for Science Teachers
Jassy Ubhi
Bayard Rustin High School
How can we study the
differences in animal and plant cells using the compound
microscope?
Skills: observe,
compare, prepare slides, use compound microscope
Materials:
Compound microscope [9-12 Content Standard E- Understandings about science and technology]
2 glass slides
2 coverslips
dropper
methylene blue stain
toothpick, flat type
Elodea leaf
Water [Teaching Standard D- Make accessible science tools]
Procedure:
1. Study the data table.
2. Put a drop of stain on a slide. Gently scrape the inside of your cheek with a toothpick. CAUTION: Do not scrape hard enough to injure your cheek.
3. Rub the toothpick in the stain. Break the toothpick in half and discard it as your teacher directs.
4. Cover the slide with a coverslip.
5. Locate the nucleus, cytoplasm, and cell membrane. Fill in the table by putting a check mark in the box if the cell part can be seen. [9-12 Content Standard C- The cell]
6. Draw and label the nucleus, cytoplasm, and cell membrane of a cheek cell.
7. Draw and label the nucleus, cytoplasm, and cell membrane of a cheek cell.
8. Prepare a slide of an Elodea leaf. Put an Elodea leaf in a drop of water on a slid .
9. Look at the Elodea cells under low power, then high power.
10. Locate the cell wall, chloroplasts, nucleus, and cytoplasm. Fill in the table.
11. Draw and label the cell wall, chloroplasts, nucleus, and cytoplasm of an Elodea cell.
| Cell Parts | Cheek Cell parts present | Elodea Cell parts present | ||
| Cytoplasm | ||||
| Nucleus | ||||
| Chloroplast | ||||
| Cell wall | ||||
| Cell membrane | ||||
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - -
Questions:
1. Describe the shape of a cheek cell
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2. Describe the shape of an Elodea cell.
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3. What are differences in both the cells? [9-12 Content Standard A- Formulate explanations using evidence]
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4. Name the parts found in plant cells which are absent in animal
cells?
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ANALYZE AND APPLY [Teaching Standard B- Orchestrate scientific discourse]
1. Why are some parts found only in plant cells do?
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2. Is the nucleus always found in the center of the cell?
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3. Name the part of the cell that surrounds the animal cell.
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4. Which part of a plant cell gives shape to the cell?
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5. Why are stains, such as methylene blue, used when observing
cells under the microscope?
[9-12 Content Standard E- Understandings about science and technology]
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6. Apply: Why don't animal cells have chloroplasts?
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