Science·Organisms & Life Processes·conceptual
Cells Under the Microscope
Understand that all living organisms are made of cells and use a light microscope to observe, interpret, and record cell structure
Suggested ages 11–12
Evidence of understanding
- States that all living things are made of cells
- Prepares or examines a slide of cells (e.g. onion skin, cheek cells) under a microscope
- Draws and labels a diagram of cells observed
- Identifies nucleus, cytoplasm, and cell membrane in a microscope image
Assessment prompt
If Cells Under the Microscope prepared a slide of onion skin and looked at it through a school microscope, could they identify what they were seeing and explain that all living things are made of these tiny units?
Standards alignment
MS-LS1-1US · ngss-ms
MS-LS1-1
Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) Middle School
KS3.Sci.Bio.Cells.1GB · uk-nc-2013
Cells as the fundamental unit
The national curriculum in England: Key stages 1 and 2 framework document · KS3