4. Seeing Cells - Logistics

Time
45-75 min introduce the parts of a cell and their functions
Optional: 10-15 min discuss microscope parts and usage
5-10 min demonstrate proper procedures for making slides
45-90 min make slides, look at cells, create diagrams, and answer questions
10-15 min discussion and review

Grouping
Teams of 2.

Materials

• A copy of plant and animal cell coloring diagrams (see Sources for several ways to obtain cell coloring diagrams)
• A copy of the Seeing Cells lab handout for each student
• Transparency or photocopies of the Cell Images page for the final discussion
• Overhead projector
• Assortment of colorful transparency markers
• Colored pencils
• 1 compound light microsope for every 2 students
• 3 glass or plastic slides for every 2 students
• 3 glass or plastic cover slips for every 2 students
• Iodine
• Methylene blue (0.25% solution, available from aquarium stores for the treatment of fungal infections in fish or at science supply companies such as Carolina Biological catalog # 87-5911, $9 for 25 ml).
• Tap water
• Eye droppers
• Half of a red onion chopped into 1 cm x 1 cm or smaller pieces
• Several Elodea plants (available from aquarium stores)
• Flat toothpicks
• Optional: images of other kinds of cells (For best collection of images of cells, see the Cells Alive website and particularly the cells image gallery)

Setting
Classroom