Key Stage 5 - Microscopy Matters

Key Stage 5 - Microscopy matters

Notes for teachers

At a glance

In this activity students view the video 'You've got a nerve' which introduces Sherrington's 'box of wonders', a box containing microscope slides which were used by Professor Charles Sherrington, a professor of physiology at the University of Oxford.

After a discussion on why microscopes are important biological tools, they work in groups completing activities on microscopy at different stations. By completing these tasks they will practice carrying out magnification calculations and learn the difference between magnification and resolution.

Learning Outcomes

·  Students calculate total magnification and use the formula Image size = actual size x magnification

·  Students describe the difference between magnification and resolution

·  Students explain why resolving power limits how useful a light microscope is

Each student will need

·  1 copy of the pupil worksheet

Possible Lesson Activities

1.  Starter activity

·  Show the class the video 'You've got a nerve'.

·  Ask the class to write down at least 3 reasons why microscopes are important tools for biologists. Go through their answers.

2.  Group activity: Activity stations

·  Ask the students to read through the pupil worksheet and get into their groups. The size of the groups will depend on the size of the class.

·  Before the lesson set up the activity stations. There are six stations in total. At each station place the Briefing Sheet and Answer Sheet for the activity. The Answer sheet should be placed face down. If you have a class of more than 18 students you will need to set up two of each station. Some stations also require equipment as follows:

Activity 1: Light microscopes, specimen slides of your choice

Activity 3: Computers/tablets with internet access

Activity 4: Pages from a magazine with a colourful image, hand lenses

Activity 5: Computers/tablets with internet access, copies of 'An idea of scale number line' (enough for one per student)

Activity 6: Computers/tablets with internet access

·  Place a group at each station. Set a timer for 7 minutes and tell the students to start the activity. When they have finished they should turn over the Answer Sheet and check their work. Ask them to organise the station ready for the next group including replacing the Answer sheet face down.

·  When the 7 minutes are up, students should move to the next station in numerical order. The time of 7 minutes is recommended for a lesson of one hour. If your lesson is shorter, remove station 6. If it is longer, increase the amount of time at each station.

3.  Plenary

·  Ask students to work alone to write down the difference between magnification and resolution.

·  Ask for feedback to check understanding. Discuss why resolving power limits how useful a light microscope is: a microscope with high magnification but low resolution is pointless because magnifying an image will not reveal any extra detail. The resolving power of a light microscope is limited by the wavelength of light.

http://www.oxfordsparks.net/video/youve-got-nerve