EIS 18: Cells
Activity 1: Using A Miscroscope
For this activity, you will be identifying plant and animal cells under a microscope. If you have access to a real microscope, we strongly recommend doing this activity using that. If you don’t, you can also complete this guided online microscope activity.
Materials
- Light microscope, real or virtual.
- If using a real microscope, you will need prepared slides of plant and animal cells or a method for preparing those slides (see below)
It is not mandatory that you use a real microscope*, and this guided online microscope activity is great, if you don’t have access to a real one.
If you are using your own microscope and do not have pre-prepared slides (or want to make your own), you can follow these instructions for preparing a wet mount of a cheek swab and these instructions for preparing an onion skin slide.
If you are joining in with a group, for example at a community center, STEM fair, or in class, follow the guidance of the lab instructor.
If you are using the online module, follow the guided prompts.
*Note for parents: We do not require a microscope for this class although but there are a few activities within this course that may be more enjoyable with a real microscope, and many young learners may enjoy exploring with them outside the context of this course. Many community centers and STEM fairs/camps have activities where you may be able to use a microscope, or there are relatively inexpensive microscopes suitable for young learners can be purchased online at Amazon or through other retailers (usually for $40-50). We do not recommend that you purchase a microscope solely for the purpose of this activity and recommend using your discretion to determine whether this is a worthwhile purchase.
Procedure
- Follow the instructions of your microscope’s instruction manual, the lab instructor (if you are using a microscope in a group setting, such as at a community center), or the online module to view at least one slide of plant cells and at least one slide of animal cells under a microscope.
- Note your observations of some similarities and differences between the plant and animal cells.
Activity 2: Modeling A Plant and Animal Cell
For this activity, you will be building a model of a plant and animal cell using whatever materials you like! Some people enjoy making edible treats like cake, cupcakes, or cookies decorated to look like plant and animal cells (and cut in the right shape!). Other people prefer a simpler approach and just want to draw them on a piece of paper or build them out of construction paper or other craft supplies. It’s totally up to you, but we encourage you to be creative and build something you enjoy!
At a minimum, your model should include:
If interested, you can also include some of the other organelles found in plant and animal cells. You don’t need to know these for this class, but it is useful information that you will likely need to know for your future biology classes. This video reviews some of the most important organelles:
At a minimum, your model should include:
- The right shape for a plant or animal cell (you should be making both)
- A cell wall (if applicable)
- A nucleus (if applicable)
- Chloroplasts (if applicable)
- Vacuole (if applicable)
If interested, you can also include some of the other organelles found in plant and animal cells. You don’t need to know these for this class, but it is useful information that you will likely need to know for your future biology classes. This video reviews some of the most important organelles:
If you’re having fun, you find something cool with your microscope, or you build a model you love, we want to see it! If you have an Instagram and the permission of your relevant responsible adult, share with us @eons_learning, #MicroscopesEons or #CellsEons