Name:___________________________________ Grade & Sec.

:_________ Score:_______
Teacher:_________________________________ Date:_________________ Rating:______

Activity 1
Comparing plant and animal cells

Objectives
After doing this activity, you should be able to:
1. identify parts of the cell;
2. describe plant and animal cells;
3. differentiate plant cells from animal cells;
4. construct a Venn Diagram to show parts that are common to both
and parts that are only found in either plant or animal cells.

Materials Needed
 sheet of paper
 ballpen or pe ncil
 Illustrations in Figures 1 and 2

Procedure
1. Study closely Figures 1 and 2. These are diagrammatic presentations
of plant and animal cells and their parts.
Q1. Compare the shape of a plant cell with that of an animal cell as shown in
Figures 1 and 2.

Q2. Which cell parts are found in both cells?

Q3. Which are present only in animal cells?

Q4. Which are present only in plant cells?

A Venn Diagram shows relationships between and among sets or

groups of objects that have something in common. It uses two circles
that overlap with one another. The common things are found in the
overlapping area, while the differences are in the non-overlapping areas.

2. Using the information you have gathered from Figures 1 and 2, construct a
Venn diagram of plant and animal cells on a sheet of paper. Label the
overlapping and non-overlapping areas.
3. Present and explain your Venn diagram to class.

Q5. Based on your observations and study of plant and animal cells, cite
differences and similarities between them.

A cell has three basic parts: the nucleus, plasma membrane and
cytoplasm. The nucleus is a part of cells which is easily seen. It is very
important because it controls all the activities of the other parts that occur
within the cell. The nucleus contains materials that play a role in
heredity. You will discuss about these materials in the later modules and grade
levels. The plasma membrane encloses the cell and separates what is inside
it from its environment. It also controls what goes into and out of the
cell.

The plasma membrane allows entry of materials needed by the cell

and eliminates those which are not needed.

Q6. What do you think will happen to the cell if the plasma membrane does not
function properly?

The cytoplasm consists of a jelly-like substance where all the other

parts of the cell are located. It does not however, include the area where the
nucleus is located. Many different activities of the cell occur in the
cytoplasm.

You have seen that plant cells have cell walls and chloroplasts that
are not found in animal cells. The cell wall is made of stiff material
that forms the outermost part of plant cells. This gives shape and
protection to them.

Recall in your elementary grades that plants make their own food.
Chloroplasts are important in plant cells because it is where food is made. It
contains chlorophyll which absorbs energy from the sun to make food
for plants.

Q7. What is the purpose of the cell wall in plants?

Q8. Look at Fig. 1 again. Why are there several chloroplasts in the plant
cell?

Vacuoles are present in both plant and animal cells. In plant cells,
they are large and usually occupy more than half of the cell space. They play
a role in storing nutrients and increasing cell size during growth. Some
plant vacuoles contain poisonous substances. Vacuoles also store water,
thereby maintaining rigidity to cells and provide support for plants to stand
upright. Plant cell vacuoles are responsible for the crisp appearance of fresh
vegetables.

Vacuoles in animal cells are small and are called vesicles. They serve
as storage of water and food and also function in the excretion of waste
materials.

Q9. How would vacuoles in plants serve as defense against animals that eat
them?

Conclusion
Name:___________________________________ Grade & Sec.:_________ Score:_______
Teacher:_________________________________ Date:_________________ Rating:______

Activity 2
Investigating plant cells

Objectives
In this activity, you should be able to:
1. prepare a wet mount;
2. describe a plant cell observed under the light microscope;
3. stain plant cells;
4. identify observable parts of a plant cell;
5. draw onion cells as seen through the light microscope; and
6. explain the role of microscopes in cell study.

Materials Needed
dropper tissue paper
cover slip iodine solution
glass slide light microscope
onion bulb scale forceps or tweezers
scalpel or sharp blade 50-mL beaker with tap water

Procedure
1. Prepare the onion scale by following steps indicated in Figure 3. Use the
transparent skin from the inner surface of the onion scale.
2. Following the procedure on how to make a wet mount described in “How to
Use The Light Microscope”, prepare one using the transparent onion
skin from Step 1. Remember to place it on the glass slide with the inner
surface (non-waxy side) facing up. Check too that the onion skin is
not folded or wrinkled.

3. Examine the onion skin slide under the low power objective (LPO).

Q10. How much are these onion cells magnified?

Q11. In this case, why is it not good to tilt the microscope?

4. Shift to the high power objective (HPO).

Q12. Describe the onion cells.

5. Remove the slide from the stage. You can now stain the onion cells with
iodine solution.

6. Using a dropper, place one or two drops of iodine solution along one edge of
the cover slip. Place a piece of tissue paper on the other edge of the
cover slip. The tissue paper will absorb the water, and iodine
solution spreads out under the cover slip until the whole specimen is
covered with stain (Figure 4).
7. Examine the stained onion cells under the LPO and HPO.

Q13. Did you observe any change in the image of onion cells before and
after staining?

Q14. How did the iodine solution affect the image of the onion cells?

Q15. What parts of the onion cell can you identify?

8. Draw three to four onion cells as seen under the HPO. Label the
parts you have identified. Indicate how much the cells are magnified.

Q16. Of what importance is the contribution of the microscope in the study of

cells?

Conclusion
Name:___________________________________ Grade & Sec.:_________ Score:_______
Teacher:_________________________________ Date:_________________ Rating:______

HOW TO USE THE LIGHT

MICROSCOPE

Objectives
After performing this activity, you should be able to:
1. handle the microscope properly;
2. identify the parts of the microscope;
3. describe what parts of the microscope can do;
4. prepare materials for microscope study;
5. focus the microscope properly;
6. compare the image of the object seen by the unaided eye and
under the microscope; and
7. compute for the magnification of objects observed under
themicroscope.

Materials Needed
 lens paper
 light microscope
 tissue paper or old t-shirt
 newspaper page
 glass slide and cover slips
 pencil
 dropper
 scissors
 tap water
 forceps or tweezer

Procedure
A. The Microscope, Its Parts and
their Functions
1. Get the microscope from its box
or the cabinet. Do this by
grasping the curved arm with one
hand and supporting the base with
the other hand.

2. Carry it to your table or working

place. Remember to always use both
hands when carrying the microscope.

3. Put the microscope down gently

on the laboratory table with its
arm facing you. Place it about 7
centimeters away from the edge of
the table.
4. Wipe with tissue paper or old t-shirt the metal parts of the microscope.

Q1. What are the functions of the base and the arm of the microscope?

5. Figure 1 shows a light microscope that most schools have. Study and
use this to locate different parts of the microscope.

6. Look for the revolving nosepiece. Note that objectives are attached it.
You should know that there are lenses inside the objectives.

Q2. What have you observed about the objectives?

Most schools have light microscopes with three objectives. Others

have four. Usually, the shortest one marked 3x, 4x or 5x is called the
scanner. The low power objective (LPO) is marked 10x or 12x while the
high power objective (HPO) is marked 40x, 43x or 60x. The objectives
magnify the object to be observed to a certain size as indicated by the
3x, 10x or 40x, etc. marks.

If the longest objective of your microscope is marked 97x or 100x

or OIO or the word “oil” on it, then it has an oil immersion objective
(OIO). This objective is used to view bacteria, very small protists and
fungi. The OIO requires the use of a special oil such as quality
cedarwood oil or cargille’s immersion oil.

7. Find the coarse adjustment. Slowly turn it upwards, then downwards.

Q3. What is accomplished by turning the coarse adjustment upwards?

downwards?

8. Looking from the side of the microscope, raise the body tube. Then, turn the
revolving nosepiece in any direction until the LPO is back in position. You
will know an objective is in position when it clicks. Note that the
revolving nosepiece makes possible the changing from one objective to
another.

Q4. What is the other function of the revolving nosepiece?

Q5. Which part connects the eyepiece to the revolving nosepiece with the
objectives?
9. Locate the eyepiece. Notice also that it is marked with a number and an x.
Know that the eyepiece further magnifies the image of the object that
has been magnified by the objective. If the eyepiece is cloudy or
dusty, wipe it gently with a piece of lens paper.

10. Look through the eyepiece. Do you see anything?

11. Now, locate the mirror. Then, position the microscope towards diffused
light from the windows or ceiling light. Look through the eyepiece
and with the concave mirror (with depression) facing up, move it
until you see a bright circle of light.

The bright circle of light is called the field of view of the

microscope. Adjust the position of the mirror so that it is not glaring to
the eyes. Practice viewing through the microscope using both eyes open.
This will reduce eyestrain.

Q6. What are the two functions of the eyepiece?

Q7. Describe the function of the mirror.

12. Locate the diaphragm. While looking into the eyepiece, rotate the
diaphragm to the next opening. Continue to do so until the
original opening you used is back under the hole in the stage.

Q8. What do you notice as you change the diaphragm openings?

Q9. What can you infer as to the function of the diaphragm?

13. Find the inclination joint.

Q10. What parts of the microscope are being connected by the inclination
joint?

14. Grasp the arm and slowly pull it towards you. Sit down and try looking
through the eyepiece.

Q11. What does this movement do?

B. Making a Wet Mount

A specimen is a part or sample of any material e.g. plant, animal,
paper or mineral, for study or examination under the microscope.
Specimens should be small and thin for light to pass through them.
15. Cut out a small letter “e” from a newspaper page. Using forceps or
tweezers place it in the center of a glass slide in an upright position.

Q12. What makes the letter “e” suitable for

observation under the microscope?

16. Add a drop of tap water over the

specimen. It will act as a mounting
medium and make clear the image of
the specimen. Position the cover slip
at 45° with one side touching one
edge of the water on the slide (Figure 2).

17. Slowly lower the other edge of the cover slip until it rests on the
water and the printed letter. Bubbles are perfect circles you see on
your preparation. Remove or minimize trapped bubbles by gently tapping
the cover slip with the eraser-end of a pencil. Make the bubble
move towards the edge of the cover slip.

C. Observing Specimens
18. Put the slide on the stage. Make sure that the letter is in the center of the
hole in the stage and under the LPO. Hold it firmly with the stage
clips.
19. Watching from the side, carefully lower the body tube until the end
of the LPO almost touches the cover slip.

20. Look through the eyepiece. Slowly turn the coarse adjustment upwards to
raise the objective until the letter “e” appears. Continue until you see the
letter clearly. This would indicate that you have focused it already.

Q13. Describe the position of the letter as seen under the microscope.

Q14. Compare the image of the letter that you see using your unaided eye with
what you see through the microscope.

21. Look through the microscope again. Slowly move the slide to the right,
then to the left.

Q15. To which direction does the image move?

22. Move the slide to the center. To shift to the HPO, raise the body
tube first. Looking from the side, turn the revolving nosepiece to put the
HPO in place. Then, using the fine adjustment slowly lower the objective
till it almost touches the cover slip. Looking through the eyepiece, turn the
fine adjustment until you see the clearest image.

Q16. Why do you have to watch from the side when changing objectives?

Q17. Why should the fine adjustment knob be used only with the HPO?

Current microscope models are said to be parfocal. This means the

image in clear focus under the low power objective, remains focused
after shifting to HPO. If the microscope you are using is not parfocal, slightly
turn the fine adjustment knob in either direction to get a clear picture.

23. Look through the eyepiece again. Then, shift to the LPO, and the
scanner. Observe closely the image of the letter.

Q18. In which objective/s can you see the whole letter “e”?

Q19. What are the advantages of using the HPO? the disadvantages?

Q20. In which objective is the light darker? brighter?

D. Magnifying Power of the Light Microscope
Can you recall the functions of the objectives and the eyepiece?
The magnification of a specimen can be calculated by multiplying the number
found in the eyepiece with the number found on the objective being used. So, if
a specimen is viewed using a 10x objective and a 10x eyepiece it will be
magnified 100 times.

24. Examine the numbers indicated on the eyepiece and scanner.

Q21. How much is the letter “e” you are now viewing under the scanner
magnified? under the LPO? Under the HPO?

Q22. If a cell being observed has been magnified 200x under the HPO, what is
the magnifying power of the eyepiece used?

Q23. In what ways would the microscope contribute to the study of

different objects and organisms?

25. After using the microscope, lift the stage clips to remove the slide from
the stage. Wash and wipe or air dry the slide and cover slip. Keep them in
their proper places. Dispose trash or other materials properly.

Conclusion: