Technicians’ lists of equipment
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Catalyst 1, Unit A: Cells
Lesson A1: Organs, cells, tissues
Main activities
A1a Looking at small objects
For each group:
 a magnifying glass (hand lens or other suitable small lens)
 a microscope
 two microscope slides
 small pieces of newsprint and tissue paper torn by hand (not cut)
 a slide with a scale marked in 0.1 mm divisions (for Extension)
A1d Looking at plant tissue
For the class:
 a large Spanish onion
 a video camera, e.g. Flexicam (optional)
For each pair:
 a craft knife or scalpel
 a white tile
 forceps
 a microscope slide
 iodine drop bottle
 a coverslip
 a mounted needle
 a microscope
A1e Looking at animal cells
For the class:
 a video camera, e.g. Flexicam (optional)
For each pair:
 pre-prepared slides – pupils’ own cheek cells may be used unless prohibited by
local rules. It is possible to use the epithelial cells from the trachea of a pig or
sheep, obtained from a local butcher. Alternatively, place a piece of Sellotape
onto a wrist, pull off and stick onto a slide.
 a microscope
This list is in Microsoft Word, so it can be customised to fit each school’s requirements.
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Technicians’ lists of equipment
Downloaded from www.catalystscience.co.uk
Catalyst 1, Unit A: Cells
Lesson A2: Building blocks
Main activities
A2a Making model cells
For each group:
 two clear plastic bags (cell membrane)
 green Plasticine (chloroplasts)
 a shoe box (cell wall)
 red Plasticine (nucleus)
 small balls or other spherical shapes (nucleus)
 a smaller plastic bag (vacuole)
 thick liquid, e.g. wallpaper paste (cytoplasm)
 water (sap)
 a plastic knife for slicing Plasticine
 a board to work Plasticine on
Additional for Extension:
 various colours of Plasticine
Lesson A3: Cells and growth
Starter activities
Capture interest
 several simple flowers
 scalpel with guard
 white tile
 sticky tape
 piece of white paper
Main activities
A3a Growing yeast
For the class:
 A yeast culture needs to be set up in optimal conditions and split equally five
ways. Leave it to grow in these conditions for 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 minutes and
stop each by adding ethanol and putting on ice. Label the flasks to show which culture is which.
Thoroughly re-suspend the yeast just before use.
This list is in Microsoft Word, so it can be customised to fit each school’s requirements.
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Technicians’ lists of equipment
Downloaded from www.catalystscience.co.uk
Catalyst 1, Unit A: Cells
For each group:
 a microscope
 five clean pipettes
 five slides and coverslips
Lesson A5: Flower cells
Main activities
A5b Growing pollen tubes
For each pair:
 a flower (e.g. lily or buttercup)
 a cavity slide
 sucrose solution (10%) and dropping pipette
 a coverslip
 a mounted needle
 a microscope
 access to a warm area for incubating pollen (25–30 °C)
 a fine art brush (optional)
This list is in Microsoft Word, so it can be customised to fit each school’s requirements.
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