Evangelical Christian Academy
Instructional Guide: Course Outline
Department: Science
Course Title: Life Science
Course Length: 2 semesters
Unit #2: Life, Cells, and Cell Structure
Chapter 3 and Chapter 4
Unit Length: 16-20 days
Essential Questions:
 What are the characteristics of life?
 How are structure and function related at the cellular level?
 Why do all organisms have similarities, even among diverse species?
 How do behaviors of organisms enhance their survival?
Instructional Objectives:
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Describe the structure and composition of a cellular membrane
Differentiate between passive and active transport of substances through the membranes of a
cell
Describe the processes of diffusion and osmosis
Describe the three basic parts of a cell
Describe the cellular organelles and their functions
Compare cellular organelles to a functioning unit such as a school or factory
Compare and contrast organelles found in plant vs. animal cell
Discuss the role of the nucleus of a cell
Describe the major parts of a compound light microscope and be able to explain how to use a
microscope slide
Explain the process of magnification in a compound light microscope
Discuss characteristics that all living organisms have in common
Compare and contrast the definitions of organism, cell, cytoplasm, and organic compound
Differentiate between unicellular and multicellular organisms and between a cell, a colony, and
a tissue
Discuss the main ways organisms obtain energy and major activities that require organisms to
use energy
Compare and contrast spiritual life and physical life
Explain the cell theory
Describe the structure and composition of a cellular membrane
Differentiate between passive and active transport of substances through the membranes of a
cell
Describe the processes of diffusion and osmosis
Describe the three basic parts of a cell
If time
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Compare and contrast the four categories of molecules that are essential to life
Give examples of carbohydrates
Explain what structures make up proteins
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Compare and contrast the two major types of nucleic acids
Compare and contrast lipids and their uses
Describe enzymes and discuss some of their functions
Instructional Resources:
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Student instructional manual
2 beakers/ink
Microscopes/blank slides/cover slips/newsprint/prepared slides/material for living slides such
as geranium leaf/potato/iodine/onion/elodea/flowers
If time: Rennet, milk, sugar and vanilla
If time: Ph paper and liquids from living things to be tested
Biblical Integration:
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Compare characteristics of Spiritual life with physical life John 4:24, John 3:3
Ps 129:14 Great is the Lord—it is amazing what God has done on the microscopic level
Gen. 1:1 Discuss how God created everything, even what is not seen—correlate with
Hebrews 11:1 how faith is the evidence of things not seen
Assessments:
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Class participation/discussion (grammar, logic, and introductory rhetoric)
Quizzes
Journal entries (grammar, logic)
Homework (review to develop understanding and mastery)
Test
Evaluation of lab investigations and accompanying questions on labs
Student Activities:
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Microscope lab --e, cheek cell, onion cell, trachea cell (elodea (if time))
Diffusion lab
If time
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Lab—enzyme action
Lab—ph
Name: ________________________
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Directions:
Label the diagram using the list of terms
A.
B.
C.
D.
Arm
Base
Body Tube
Coarse Adjustment Knob
E.
F.
G.
H.
Diaphragm
Eyepiece (ocular)
Fine Adjustment Knob
Light source
I. Objectives
K. Specimen
L. Stage
Match the terms above with the definitions by writing the proper letter choices in the blanks provided.
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1. _____ Contains the lens(es) that you look into
2. _____ Object viewed through a microscope
3. _____ Uses two sets of lenses to produce an enlarged image
4. _____ Where the slide is placed
5. _____ the lenses nearest the object being viewed
Objectives:
To learn the parts of the microscope.
To find specimens using low and high power.
To make a wet mount.
To view your own human cheek cells under the microscope.
To compare plant and animal cells.
Examine the microscope and familiarize yourself with the parts of the
microscope.
1. Magnification
The magnification written on the ocular lens (eyepiece) is _____________
The magnification on the Scanning objective ___________ Low Power Objective
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High Power Objective ___________
What is the total magnification for each lens (multiply ocular times objective)
Scanning _____________ Low Power ______________ High Power
________________
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2. Diaphragm
Examine the diaphragm, what are the numbers written on it? ____________________
Which setting makes the specimen the lightest? ________________ The darkest?
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3. Lenses
Twist the ocular lens, does yours have a pointer? _____________ What is the purpose
of the pointer? __________________________________________
Find out what happens to your viewing field if you do not have an objective fully clicked
into place. ____________________________________________
Procedure: Letter “e”
1. Add a drop of water to the slide.
2. Cut out the letter “e” from the newsprint and place it on the droplet on the slide face
up.
3. Place the cover slip on top of the “e” and drop of water at a 45-degree angle and
lower.
Data: Part 1- The letter “e”
Draw the “e” exactly as it appears in your viewing field for each magnification. The
circles below represent your viewing field. The E should take up as much space in the
drawing as it does in your viewing field while you're looking at it.
Scanning
Low Power
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High Power
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Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Drawing
Drawing Specimens
1. Use pencil - you can erase and shade areas
2. All drawings should include clear and proper labels (and be large enough to view details).
Drawings should be labeled with the specimen name and magnification.
3. Labels should be written on the outside of the circle. The circle indicates the viewing field
as seen through the eyepiece, specimens should be drawn to scale - i.e......if your specimen
takes up the whole viewing field, make sure your drawing reflects that.
4. Place the slide on the stage and view in the scanning power (40x). Center the “e” in
your
field of view. Draw what you see in Figure 1 at the top of the page.
5. Move the slide to the left, what happens? Move the slide to the right, what happens?
Up? Down? (Describe how the e moves in relationship to your body.)
6. View the specimen in low power (100x). Use the fine adjustment only to focus. Draw
what you see in Figure 2 at the top of the page.
7. View the specimen in high power (400x). Use the fine adjustment only to focus.
Draw what you see in Figure 3 at the top of the page.
Analysis:
1. How does the letter “e” as seen through the microscope differ from the way an “e”
normally appears?
2. When you move the slide to the left, in what direction does the letter “e” appear to
move? When you move it to the right? Up? Down?
3. How does the ink appear under the microscope compared to normal view?
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4. What is the difference between the image you see under low power and the image
you see under high power?
5. Why does a specimen placed under the microscope have to be thin?
Procedure: Part 2 - Cheek Cell
Hypothesis: Do you think that you will see anything moving in your cheek cells?
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1. Place a small drop of Iodine onto a clean slide.
2. Using a toothpick, gently scrape the inside of you cheek.
3. Place the toothpick tip into the iodine and mix. The iodine stains the cells so you can
see them.
Data: Part 2- Cheek Cell
Low Power
Figure 4
High Power
Figure 5
4. Place the slide under low power (100x). Draw what you see in Figure 4.
5. Switch to high power (400x). Draw 2 or 3 cells in Figure 5. Label the nucleus, cell
membrane, and cytoplasm.
Analysis:
1. Why did we add iodine to our cheek cells?
2. What structure in the cheek cell was stained the darkest?
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3. Did you see anything moving?
4. Is your cheek cell an animal cell, plant cell, fungus cell, protist, or bacteria?
Procedure: Part 3 - The Elodea leaf
Hypothesis: Do you think that you will see anything moving in your Elodea leaf cells?
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Scanning Power
Low Power
Figure 6
Figure 7
1. Place a drop of water on a clean slide.
2. Place a tip of an Elodea leaf in the drop of water, place a coverslip on top.
3. Observe under scanning power first (40x), then under low power (100x)
Data: Part 3 – The Elodea Cell
4. Figure 6: Drawing of the Elodea cell in scanning power (40X) and then on high
power (100x) in Figure 7.
5. Label the following organelles: nucleus, cytoplasm, cell wall, chloroplasts.
Analysis:
1. Was anything happening in your cell?
2. Did you see anything moving?
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3. Is your Elodea leaf cell an animal cell, plant cell, fungus cell, protist, or bacteria?
4. What structures were in both the cheek cells and the Elodea leaf cells?
3. What structures were only in the Elodea leaf cells?
Conclusion: Write a paragraph summarizing what you learned.
YOU MUST CLEAN UP! ALL SLIDES ARE CLEANED AND PUT AWAY
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