Cheek Cells

Today’s Key Questions:

1. What’s in my mouth? (What is the smallest level of organization in the body? Can we find it with a microscope?)

By the end of class, I should be able to:

• make a drawing or a human cheek cell
• identify the nucleus, cell membrane and cytoplasm of a cell
• Elaborate the descriptions in your writing.

August Process Words

• Compose
• Illustrate
• Contribute
• Elaborate

Class Opening:

1. If it is your day to contribute to the class data, please do so first.
2. Post your blog - Human Hair
3. Comment on other blogs

Making a slide of cheek cells

1. Add one drop of methylene blue to the middle of a clean slide. Be careful! Methylene blue will stain your clothes and skin.
2. Use the flat side of a toothpick to gently scratch the inside of your cheek. DO NOT GOUGE YOUR CHEEK  - you don’t need chunks of skin and definitely don’t want to draw blood.
3. Gently touch the toothpick to the drop of dye on the slide. Some of your cheek cells should drift off into the dye.
4. Throw the toothpick away.
5. Stand a thin glass cover slip on its edge near the drop of dye.
6. Slowly lower the other side of the cover slip until it covers the dye completely. Make sure there are no air bubbles.

Make a drawing when on the highest objective:

*	Date: Magnification: Labels: Cell Cell Membrane Cytoplasm

*

Blog Posting: This posting is more of a creative writing piece. Imagine yourself shrunk down to a size that will fit inside a cell. You are in a cheek cell. Describe what you see! What happens?

(On your posting, please include the drawing from today’s microscope activity.)

Support Reading: Cells & Heredity pages 18 - 24, Key questions 2, 3, 4 and 5