Electron microscopy, and the size and scale of cells: including standard form
I can describe the size and scale of cells and cell structures, and explain how electron microscopy has increased our understanding of sub-cellular structures.
Electron microscopy, and the size and scale of cells: including standard form
I can describe the size and scale of cells and cell structures, and explain how electron microscopy has increased our understanding of sub-cellular structures.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Most cells are too small to be seen without a microscope.
- Comparison of the sizes of cells and cell structures in µm, nm, and in mm in standard form.
- Light microscopes have limited magnification and resolution.
- Electron microscopes have greater magnification and resolution, allowing much smaller structures to be seen clearly.
- Electron microscopy has increased our understanding of sub-cellular structures.
Keywords
Light microscope - A type of microscope that uses visible light and lenses to generate magnified images of small objects.
Electron microscope - A type of microscope that uses a beam of electrons instead of light to magnify objects.
Magnification - Making small objects appear larger in order to see more detail.
Resolution - The minimum distance apart that two points of a specimen can be and still be clearly seen as separate from one another using a microscope.
Standard form - A way of writing down very large or very small numbers easily; e.g. 1000 = 10³.
Common misconception
Pupils might think that all cells are approximately the same size.
Calculations in the deck will allow pupils to compare the relative sizes of cells. It might be helpful to draw extra attention to this point.
To help you plan your year 11 biology lesson on: Electron microscopy, and the size and scale of cells: including standard form, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 11 biology lesson on: Electron microscopy, and the size and scale of cells: including standard form, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 biology lessons from the Classification in modern biology unit, dive into the full secondary biology curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Equipment
calculators
Licence
Lesson video
Loading...
