New
New
Year 7

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.

New
New
Year 7

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

  1. The cells that make up tissue can be viewed using a light microscope.
  2. A sample of tissue can be prepared on a slide to view using a microscope.
  3. Adding a stain can make it easier to see some parts of cells.
  4. Changing the magnification and focus of a light microscope enables stained cell structures to be observed.
  5. Observations from a light microscope can be recorded in a 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.

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.

Pupils should be provided with the opportunity to produce their own line drawings to record observations from light microscopy, and perhaps to peer review them in a constructive way.
Teacher tip

Content guidance

  • Risk assessment required - equipment

Supervision

Adult supervision required

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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6 Questions

Q1.
A is a piece of equipment that is used to see things that are very small.
Correct Answer: microscope, light microscope
Q2.
Which parts of the microscope magnify an image?
Correct answer: eyepiece lens
light
focusing wheel
Correct answer: objective lens
Q3.
Which is not a part of a microscope?
focusing wheel
light/mirror
Correct answer: telescope
stage
eyepiece lens
Q4.
Which action would you take to increase the magnification of this image (to make the individual cells appear larger)?
An image in a quiz
move the stage
increase the brightness of the light
turn the focusing wheel
Correct answer: increase the value of the objective lens
Q5.
Which of these images is more focused?
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: An image in a quiz
An image in a quiz
Q6.
A is a piece of curved glass that focuses and magnifies light.
Correct Answer: lens

6 Questions

Q1.
Which piece of apparatus is not used to prepare an onion tissue slide?
mounted needle
tweezers
cover slip
Correct answer: magnifying glass
Q2.
Match the apparatus to its job in preparing a microscope slide.
Correct Answer:glass slide,put the specimen on

put the specimen on

Correct Answer:stain,to see the specimen more clearly

to see the specimen more clearly

Correct Answer:cover slip,to place over the specimen

to place over the specimen

Correct Answer:tweezers,to hold the tissue and cover slip

to hold the tissue and cover slip

Correct Answer:mounted needle,to lower the cover slip slowly

to lower the cover slip slowly

Q3.
Starting with a glass slide, put these stages in the correct order for preparing a microscope slide.
An image in a quiz
1 - Take a glass slide and place a tissue or cell specimen on it.
2 - Add a drop of stain.
3 - Place a cover slip over the top using tweezers.
4 - Lower the cover slip with a mounted needle.
5 - Blot off excess stain.
Q4.
The chemical that is placed on a specimen so that it can been seen easily is called a...
Correct Answer: stain
Q5.
Which features should be altered in this scientific line drawing to improve it?
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: sketched lines
using pencil
cell shape
Correct answer: shading
Q6.
Which of these descriptions is not a key feature of an accurate scientific line drawing?
An image in a quiz
labelling
continuous, smooth lines
stippling
Correct answer: shading
magnification used
Q3 UYSEG Q5 UYSEG Q6 UYSEG

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