Visit our Facebook page to see inside the classroom of Columbia Science Teacher Terri Walsh where students used microscopes on Thursday to study animal, plant, and bacteria cells.

After reviewing proper techniques, students prepared their own slides, practiced viewing specimens at different magnifications, and focused through the depth of field. They also learned how to measure and calculate the diameter of the field of view at each magnification.

The class has been exploring the differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells and studied both types during this lesson. First, they examined the eukaryotic cells of plant and animals, identifying any visible organelles in each specimen. Next, prokaryotic bacterial cells were observed. Students analyzed their own observations using computational techniques to determine the sizes of the plant, animal, and bacterial cells. Finally, students connected their findings with their knowledge that some bacteria cause disease, as they considered how tiny prokaryotic cells might interact with much larger human cells.