Protists…A Study of Cells & the Microscope
The Protist Kingdom is made up of a variety of unicellular organisms, which are
sometimes referred to as protozoa or algae. Some of these one-celled organisms are
capable of making their own food by photosynthesis. Others have developed methods
and ingesting food by means of specialized organelles. (Some protists make their own
food and eat other food.) Protists have a variety of appearances and methods of
locomotion.
Section 1: The Amoeba
1. Observe a prepared slide of the amoeba. Notice the different parts inside this
single-celled organism.
2. Place a drop of fluid from the amoeba sample onto your slide.
3. Using your compound microscope, locate your amoeba under low power and
observe it as it moves. You might need to reduce the light by adjusting the
diaphragm under the stage of the microscope. If the amoeba is very small, move to
the next higher power to observe.
4. Draw the amoeba on your answer sheet. Write the total magnification you used to
make your drawing.
5. This cell is eukaryotic and should have a control center or nucleus. It would
appear as a darker area inside the cell. Draw and label this part.
6. Amoeba has pseudopods, or “false feet”, that stretch out and contract to move.
These can also surround food to help the organism eat. Label the pseudopod.
7. All cells are surrounded by a cell membrane. This is the covering that keeps the
cell materials together. Label this part.
8. The liquid inside the cell is called cytoplasm. It has many materials and other cell
parts inside it. Cytoplasm also moves around inside the cell. Label this part.
Section 2: Paramecium
1. Observe a prepared slide of the paramecium. Notice the different cell parts.
2. Place a drop of fluid from the paramecium sample onto your slide. Observe under
the microscope. Draw the paramecium and write the total magnification.
3. This cell is also eukaryotic. Label the nucleus, cell membrane, and cytoplasm.
4. Paramecia move using their cilia. These are tiny hair like structures on its body.
They beat quickly and help the paramecium move fast. Draw and label the cilia.
Section 3: Euglena
1. Observe a prepared slide of the euglena. Notice the different cell parts.
2. Place a drop of fluid from the euglena sample onto your slide. Observe under the
microscope. Draw the euglena and write the total magnification.
3. This cell is also eukaryotic. Label the nucleus, cell membrane, and cytoplasm.
4. Euglena has properties of plants. They can make their own food by performing
photosynthesis using their chloroplasts. These are green objects inside the cell that
can also be found in plants. Draw and label them.
5. Euglena move using their flagellum. This is the long hair like structure at the back
end of the organism. The flagellum beats and moves to propel the organism. Draw
and label the flagellum.
Name: _____________________________ Date: ______________ Class Period: ____
Protists…A Study of Cells & the Microscope
Specimen Name: ___________________________
Total Magnification: _________
Specimen Name: ___________________________
Total Magnification: _________
Specimen Name: ___________________________
Total Magnification: _________
Questions: Answer the following in complete sentences. Use the instructions; all
answers are found there!!!!!
1.
How does the amoeba move? (What cell parts do they use?)
2.
How does the paramecium move? (What cell parts do they use?)
3.
How does the euglena move? (What cell parts do they use?)
4.
Each of these organisms is eukaryotic. What makes them eukaryotic?
Conclusion: ON A SEPARATE SHEET OF PAPER, describe why each of the
organisms we looked at in this lab are NOT animals. Use the information we learned in
class about animals and what you observed in this lab. Do not use the words I, me, we,
us, etc in your conclusion. It should be a paragraph that describes the facts and details
about why they are not animals.