Name:________________________________ Hour: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Date:_______________
Dirty Water
Protist Lab
Instructions: Students have been given the last week to bring in a sample of dirty water.
Throughout this lab we will be attempting to identify unknown organisms found in a random
sampling of dirty water. Students will have the opportunity to look at their dirty water sample as
well as their classmates’ dirty water samples. If you don’t see anything in your first water
sample clean off your slide and prepare a new sample as needed.
Microscope Use: Students will be using a compound microscope to complete this lab. To
prepare a slide students should use their pipette to get one or two small drops of their sample and
place those drops on their slide. All water samples then need to be covered with a small plastic
slide covering so they do not get the objective lens of the microscope dirty.
Finally when using the microscope students may use the 4x and 10x objective lens to view their
dirty water samples but not the 40x lens. Students should also only be using the course
adjustment knob during this activity. This knob brings the nose of the microscope closer to the
water sample. It is always easier to focus in using the lower 4x objective lens and then switch to
the 10x objective lens once you are centered on the part of your slide you want to view.
Microscopes are expensive so ask questions if you are having problems or need help.
Common Organisms You Might See
Lab Questions and Drawings:
1. During the lab I want you to stop and draw what you see under your microscope at least four
different times. Please make your drawings are accurate and detailed. Also attempt to classify
your organism based on the pictures provided on the opposite side of this paper. Include your
organisms name with your drawing as well as what structural characteristics your organism has
that made you classify it the way you did. (Example: Cilia, Flagella, Pseudopod, etc.)
Organism: _____________________
Structures that lead to your classification:
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Organism: _____________________
Structures that lead to your classification:
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Organism: _____________________
Structures that lead to your classification:
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Organism: _____________________
Structures that lead to your classification:
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