Microscopes 2016 GCSE

Depending on your structure, this could be a practical lesson or A theory one. The practical lesson involves students prepare Onion and Cheek cells to study through a microscope. Alternatively, you could skip that part and have the students work on the magnification calculation sheet. Or you could do both! Additional notes giving ideas and hints for activities within the lesson are in the notes sections of the slides. Equipment needed - Onion – Knife – Cutting Tile – Staining liquid (Iodine) – Microscopes – Microscope slides – Cover Slips – Tweezers – Cotton Swabs


Starter - Students identify objects zoomed in through a microscope.

Main 1 - Students discuss the parts of a microscope before preparing onion and cheek cells to study under a microscope.

Main 2 - Students then move on to calculate magnification from the differentiated worksheet (Answers provided)

Plenary - Students then discuss the difference between magnification and resolution with the help of a picture as a prompt.

Objectives:
GOOD – USE a light microscope

GREAT – USE the formula Magnification = Size of Image/Size of real object

OUTSTANDING – DESCRIBE the difference between magnification and resolution

Hope you enjoy :)