Observing single cells (and other nasties) under the microscope

The wonderful world of pond scum

Preparing wet slides• Can be done with either

type of slide, a proper wet mount or a flat slide

• Use a pippette to put a SMALL drop of liquid on

• Place a cover slip over it

If you can't see anything

• Firstly - focus on a bubble using a low magnification

• Secondly – increase the magnification, you may be able to see something now if you move the slide a little

• Thirdly – there may not be anything there after all – make a new slide

Things you might see

More things you might see

When observing many algae what may appear as one organism is actually a colony of single celled organisms

Your task

• See what you can find

• Draw what you find

• Share what you find

• See if you can identify what you find

• Pond Life Identification Kit: http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/index.html?http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/pond/index.html