Cells, up close and personal

This week we continued our investigations with microscopes. Having already gotten some experience last week with the ins and outs of using one, we focused on cells. The kids got a chance to compare plant and animal cells by extracting human cheek cells (sounds much more painful than it actually is) and onion cells (a little smelly, but otherwise no tears). We talked about how animal cells are more "blob-like," and how plant cells have a rigid exterior, which makes them look like boxes or bricks. 

Afterward the kids looked at other specimens under the microscope including: a mosquito (the wings are really interesting up close), a spider (much hairier than you'd think) , a louse (even scarier magnified 100X), a blade of grass, and various leaves.