Science

On Tuesday we went over to kyle park to collect plants and insects to look at under the microscopes. we were looking at those plants and insects so we could see what cells they had. For this experiment we used 2 different types of microscopes. A dissection microscope and monocular microscope. Dissection microscopes are used for insects so you don't have to crush them and the monocular microscope you flatten it and use a light to see the cells.  these are some photos of our findings.  We put the  insects in ethanol to peacefully MURDER them in the least harmful way possible. and we also learnt how to prepare a slide for the monocular microscope to prepare a slide you need to...

• Place the specimen in the middle of the clean slide. Ensure that the specimen is laying flat and not folded over itself. 
• Add 2-3 drops of the stain solution. Plant cells are commonly stained with iodine, whereas animal cells are commonly stained with methylene blue. both of these solutions stain the nucleus of each cell. (and your fingers and clothes so be careful) 
• Holding a cover slip by each of its edges in your left hand, manoeuvre it so that the bottom edge of the cover slip makes contact with both the slide and the edges of the stain solution. With your right hand support the top edge of the cover slip with a pair of tweezers. 

                              Onion                                                     Insect