Lesson A1: Organs, cells, tissues

Main activities

A1a Looking at small objects

For each group:

·  a magnifying glass (hand lens or other suitable small lens)

·  a microscope

·  two microscope slides

·  small pieces of newsprint and tissue paper torn by hand (not cut)

·  a slide with a scale marked in 0.1 mm divisions (for Extension)

A1d Looking at plant tissue

For the class:

·  a large Spanish onion

·  a video camera, e.g. Flexicam (optional)

For each pair:

·  a craft knife or scalpel

·  a white tile

·  forceps

·  a microscope slide

·  iodine drop bottle

·  a coverslip

·  a mounted needle

·  a microscope

A1e Looking at animal cells

For the class:

·  a video camera, e.g. Flexicam (optional)

For each pair:

·  pre-prepared slides – pupils’ own cheek cells may be used unless prohibited by

local rules. It is possible to use the epithelial cells from the trachea of a pig or

sheep, obtained from a local butcher. Alternatively, place a piece of Sellotape

onto a wrist, pull off and stick onto a slide.

·  a microscope

Lesson A2: Building blocks

Main activities

A2a Making model cells

For each group:

·  two clear plastic bags (cell membrane)

·  green Plasticine (chloroplasts)

·  a shoe box (cell wall)

·  red Plasticine (nucleus)

·  small balls or other spherical shapes (nucleus)

·  a smaller plastic bag (vacuole)

·  thick liquid, e.g. wallpaper paste (cytoplasm)

·  water (sap)

·  a plastic knife for slicing Plasticine

·  a board to work Plasticine on

Additional for Extension:

·  various colours of Plasticine

Lesson A3: Cells and growth

Starter activities

Capture interest

·  several simple flowers

·  scalpel with guard

·  white tile

·  sticky tape

·  piece of white paper

Main activities

A3a Growing yeast

For the class:

·  A yeast culture needs to be set up in optimal conditions and split equally five

ways. Leave it to grow in these conditions for 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 minutes and

stop each by adding ethanol and putting on ice. Label the flasks to show which culture is which. Thoroughly re-suspend the yeast just before use.

For each group:

·  a microscope

·  five clean pipettes

·  five slides and coverslips

Lesson A5: Flower cells

Main activities

A5b Growing pollen tubes

For each pair:

·  a flower (e.g. lily or buttercup)

·  a cavity slide

·  sucrose solution (10%) and dropping pipette

·  a coverslip

·  a mounted needle

·  a microscope

·  access to a warm area for incubating pollen (25–30 °C)

·  a fine art brush (optional)

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This list is in Microsoft Word, so it can be customised to fit each school’s requirements.