7Th Grade Integrated Science s1

7th Grade Integrated Science

Standard 3, Objective 1

Title: Cell Day

Description: Students will collect samples and bring them to school to look at underneath the microscope. They will keep a journal of their observations and drawings and summarize their findings.

Time Needed: 20 minutes each period for 2 weeks

Materials: microscopes, slides, cover slips, biological stains, razor blades or scalpels. Journal pages (example below, or students can bring their own notebooks)

Background Knowledge: Students should have used the microscope and seen cells and cell parts previous to doing this activity. A cheek and onion cell lab would be a good background activity.

Safety considerations: Students should be cautioned about cells scraped off of rotting meat or other sources of harmful bacteria. They should not collect blood or body secretions for reasons of health and sanitation.

Procedures:

1. Explain to students that they will be collecting cells from objects in their world that could contain cells. They will be using the microscope to determine if cells are present and what parts they can see, size, shape etc.

2. Students should not work in groups larger than two if at all possible. Expect that the first day they will forget to bring cells and will end up looking at hair or lint. You may wish to require they bring substances that can only be found somewhere outside of school for a few of their observations.

3. Remind students how a preparation must be made for cells to be visible under the microscope.

4. Tell students how many samples you would like them to bring each day and how many days you would like them to work on this activity.

5. Ask students to summarize their findings by making a poster of their most interesting cell (or non-cell) They should draw it and describe it to the class. They should describe whether the substance is living or not, based on the cell (or not)

Student Sheet Name______

Introduction: You may know that cells are the smaller parts of all living things. In this activity you will collect samples of substances and view them under the microscope to determine if they have cells and are alive or recently alive. You will keep a journal and make a summary of your findings.

Procedures:

1. Collect a sample of a substance or thing or organism in your environment. It should be a very small sample because you will be making a slide using a thin preparation of the item.

2. Bring the sample to school and use the time allowed to make a slide, stain it if you think that will help and view it under the microscope.

3. Complete a journal entry for each sample. The entry should contain:

· A drawing of a cell or two, if they exist

· A written description of what you saw and whether or not you think cells are present.

· Be sure to identify the source of the substance.

4. This activity will continue until: ______I need to bring in ____ samples each time.

Data: