Name: _______________________________________
Class: ______________
Microscope Lab
Purpose: To examine plant and animals cells and to answer the following questions: How are plant
and animal cells alike? How are they different?
Materials:
microscope
bacteria or protist or fungi slide
plant slide
animal slide
Procedure: In this lab, you will view and sketch/label cells from prepared slides. Careful observation
will reveal similarities and differences between them.
Results: This is where you record your observations.
Plant Cells
Sketch the plant cells under low and high power. Make sure you are drawing your cells to scale
(the size of your drawing should reflect the size that you view them in the microscope). Don’t
forget to note the colour of what you see, and to label both the cell type and magnification.
______________________(_____x)_ ______________________(_____x)_
Notes and Observations:
Animal Cells
Sketch your animal cells under low and high power, also paying attention to scale. Don’t forget
to note the colour of what you see, and to label both the cell type and magnification.
______________________(_____x)_ ______________________(_____x)_
Notes and Observations:
Student Choice
Sketch your chosen cells under low and high power, also paying attention to scale. Don’t forget
to note the colour of what you see, and to label both the cell type and magnification.
______________________(_____x)_ ______________________(_____x)_
Notes and Observations:
Discussion: This is where you analyze your results.
1. What are the differences between the plant and animal cells?
2. What are the similarities between the plant and animal cells?
3. Compare your plant cells to those of another group. Are the similarities and differences
what you expected? Why or why not?
4. Compare your animal cells to those of another group. Are the similarities and
differences what you expected? Why or why not?
5. Why does your chosen specimen not fit within either the plant or animal groups?
Students will be assessed on the following categories.
Code
E
C
A
2-2
In their work, pupils
use equipment in a
safe and basically
functional way.
In their work, pupils
use equipment in a
safe and
appropriate way.
In their work, pupils
use equipment in a
safe, appropriate
and effective way.
2-3
Pupils can compare
their own results with
those of others and
apply simple
reasoning about
similarities and
differences and what
these may be related
to, and also
contribute to
making proposals
that can improve the
study.
Pupils can compare
their own results with
those of others and
apply developed
reasoning to
similarities and
differences, and
what these may be
due to, and also
make proposals
which after some
reworking can
improve the study.
Pupils can compare
their own results with
those of others and
apply well
developed
reasoning to
similarities and
differences, and
what these may be
due to, and also
make proposals
which can improve
the study.
2-4
In addition, pupils
draw up simple
documentation of
their studies using
text and pictures.
In addition, pupils
draw up developed
documentation of
their studies using
texts and pictures.
In addition, pupils
draw up well
developed
documentation of
their studies using
text and pictures.