Observing cells with a light
microscope
Science
Unit: Cells
Outcome
I can use a light microscope to observe cells.
Keywords
cell
lens
light microscope
focus
magnification
Keywords
A cell is the smallest living building block of a living organism.
A lens is a piece of curved glass which focuses light to alter the size
of an image.
A light microscope is a piece of equipment that uses lenses to focus
light and enlarge the object’s image.
Adjusting the focus of a lens makes an image clearer.
Increasing the magnification of an object makes it look bigger.
Lesson outline
Observing cells with a light microscope
Living organisms are made up of cells
Microscopes are used to view cells
Using a microscope
Living organisms are made up of cells
Explanation
All living organisms are made of living building blocks.
These living building blocks are called cells.
Cells are usually far too small for us to see unaided. We have to
magnify them to see them.
an animal magnified view of cells that one animal
make up the animal’s skin skin cell
Living organisms are made up of cells
Explanation
In humans, other animals, and plants, groups of similar cells
work together in tissues. Groups of tissues working together to
perform a certain function are called organs.
a tissue
cells
All our tissues, e.g. muscles and bones; and all our organs
e.g. heart and skin, are made of cells.
Living organisms are made up of cells
Explanation
a plant cells that make up the plant’s one plant cell
leaves
Cells are living because they carry out all the common processes
of living organisms.
Which of these common processes can you remember?
Living organisms are made up of cells
Check
Which statement about living organisms is true?
a a living organism contains cells
b a living organism is made up of cells
c there are no cells in a living organism
Living organisms are made up of cells
Check
Which statements do you think are right, I am I I I am
sure think think sure
and which are wrong? this is this is this is this is
right right wrong wrong
a Animals are made up of cells.
b All living organisms are made up of cells.
Cells are usually big enough for us to see
c
without magnifying them.
d Cells are like Lego® bricks - they’re just
building blocks that aren’t alive.
Task A Living organisms are made up of cells
Practice
Some pupils were asked to draw animal cells in a tissue.
Aisha Jacob
Laura Alex
Which is the best drawing of animal cells in a tissue, and why?
Task A Living organisms are made up of cells Feedback
Jacob Aisha Alex Laura
Which is the best drawing of animal cells in a tissue, and why?
- Jacob’s drawing is the best.
- The cells are grouped together like building blocks to make a tissue.
- Each cell is itself a complete structure or unit.
- Aisha’s cells are incomplete structures.
- Alex’s cells are spread apart and grouped together like building blocks.
- Laura’s cells are too big and would be large enough for us to see
without magnifying them.
Lesson outline
Observing cells with a light microscope
Living organisms are made up of cells
Microscopes are used to view cells
Using a microscope
Microscopes are used to view cells
Explanation
Most cells are too small to see
with our unaided eyes. lens
Cells can be magnified using a
lens.
A magnifying glass has a lens,
but even this doesn’t make
cells appear big enough for us
to see them.
Microscopes are used to view cells
Explanation
A light microscope has two
magnifying lenses to make eyepiece lens
cells large enough to see with
our eyes.
objective
lens
A sample of tissue can be
magnified so the individual
cells can be seen.
Microscopes are used to view cells
Explanation
With a light microscope we can see some of the cell
structures, but we cannot magnify enough to see
atoms and molecules.
an animal cell a diagram of a cell a molecule
seen through a including its internal
light microscope structures
Images are not to scale
Microscopes are used to view cells
Check
Which of these could you only see by using a light
microscope?
a cell
b molecule
c tissue
d water
Task B Microscopes are used to view cells
Practice
Andeep and Jun are discussing their aims for using a light microscope.
I’m going to use a
I’m going to use a
light microscope to
light microscope to
look for a water
look at a single cell.
molecule inside a cell.
Andeep Jun
Explain to Andeep and Jun whether they will be able to achieve
their aims using a light microscope, and why.
Task B Microscopes are used to view cells
Feedback
Andeep: I’m going to use a Jun: I’m going to use a light
light microscope to look for a microscope to look at a
water molecule inside a cell. single cell.
Explain to Andeep and Jun whether they will be able to achieve their aims
using a light microscope, and why.
● Andeep will not be able to see any water molecules.
● The molecules are too small.
● The microscope’s lenses cannot magnify molecules enough to see them.
● Jun will be able to see the structure of a cell.
● The microscope lenses can magnify cells enough to be able to see them.
● He will not be able to see all of the structures inside a cell.
Lesson outline
Observing cells with a light microscope
Living organisms are made up of cells
Microscopes are used to view cells
Using a microscope
Using a microscope
Explanation
This is a labelled diagram of a light microscope.
eyepiece lens
objective lens
coarse focus wheel
stage
light source
fine focus wheel
Using a microscope
Check
Add the missing labels to the parts of the microscope
eyepiece lens
objective lens
coarse focus
stage wheel
light source
fine focus wheel
Using a microscope
Explanation
Watch the video clip to see how to use the microscope
to observe the cells in a specimen.
Using a microscope
Explanation
The method for using a microscope is:
1. Turn the objective lens to the lowest magnification.
2. Place the slide on the stage under the clips.
3. Turn on the light source.
4. Looking from the side, turn the coarse focus wheel to
move the stage up so it is close to the objective lens.
5. Looking into the eyepiece, turn the coarse focus wheel
to bring your specimen into focus.
6. Turn the fine focus wheel to make the image clearer.
7. The magnification can be increased by changing to a
higher power objective lens.
Using a microscope
Check
Put these statements in the correct order for using a microscope to
view a slide:
a Use the fine focus wheel to make the image clearer. 4
b Place the slide on the stage. 2
c Turn to the lowest power objective lens. 1
d Use the coarse focus wheel to focus on the specimen. 3
Task C Using a microscope
Practice
Follow the method of using a light
microscope to:
● Magnify and focus on cells in a tissue specimen
from a plant or animal.
● Identify a single cell.
Task C Using a microscope
Feedback
Here are some examples of images that may be similar to
what you saw through a light microscope.
muscle tissue onion tissue skin tissue root tissue
Summary Observing cells with a light microscope
● Living organisms are made up of living building blocks called cells.
● A sample of cells can be magnified using a light microscope, so the
individual cells appear big enough to be seen.
● Cells make up tissues, and a specimen of tissue can be prepared to
be viewed using a microscope.
To use a microscope:
○ The specimen, on a slide, is placed on the stage.
○ The microscope is turned to the lowest power objective lens.
○ The lens will magnify the image; this makes the cells and some
structures inside them large enough to see.
○ Looking through the eyepiece lens, the coarse and fine focus
wheels are used to focus the image, so cell structures become
clear.
