[eliza4one]

I have to teach Health for the first time this year. Not my
fave subject, nor one that I know a whole lot about.

We will be reading about cells this week, which are relatively abstract (I think) for kids. Not like a heart, or a bone, or other organ that we know a little more about and that we have seen pics of.

So, here is my question. Is there a way to see cells under a microscope? i.e, perhaps scraping the inside of our cheeks with a toothpick, then looking at that under the microscope? I think I had heard someone mention doing that. If we do that IS that cells that we are seeing?

Thanks for any help you can give me.

And....if the above is incorrect, other ideas are welcome.

[MaddieC]

Eliza,

In this day and age most school system WILL NOT allow the use of bodily fluids of any kind in the classroom. That includes the cells from the inside of the cheek. I suggest that you check your school system's policy regarding this.

You can buy prepared (premade) slides online for fairly reasonable prices. ($16.00 to about $35.00/set) See if your principal will let you buy some using instructional funds.

Try the sites below.


Maddie

http://scientificsonline.com/category.asp?c=421264&sid=google&cm_mmc=google-_-cpc-_-edmu-_-microscopeslides&bhcd2=1192830565

http://www.einsteinstoolbox.com/preparedslides.html?gclid=CIKmiIP6m48CFRqwOAod2U2y Ug

http://www.physlink.com/estore/cart/HumanTissues1Slides.cfm

[NonosMom]

I made a model of a cell when I was in college that was really easy. It gives the kids the chance to identify the individual parts of a cell and have a concrete model that they can go back to. I wish I had a picture of it, but it was cheap and easy to make.

I used gel candle wax and a huge round glass bowl. Then, I shaped the pieces of a cell and placed them in the wax when it was almost set. I used pipe cleaners and pom pom balls mostly. It turned out really neat and now I have it in my room for my kids to go back to. We are having to teach health this year for three weeks. We have to cover all the body systems.

hello my name is beeba and i can't hide my feeling when i read ur experience with the cell-world and how u did ur models in a very modern way simply without being costing u alot.
am asking u if we can be friends since we share lots of similarities.
we are both science teachers for kids.
say hi to your kids and lets be on touch
take care
bi
beeba_20<img src="images/smilies/sym... />hotmail.com

[iluv3rd]

We made edible cells using jello jigglers, grapes for the nucleus, fruit roll ups for the membrane and walls and jellybeans for the chloroplats. Google it.

[gotskillz]

I love this idea thank you so much for posting this!

hiii .. i teach the cell to grade 7 ... they cannot imagin it .. i need some ideas aboute how to teach them ... i use the microscope , wall projects ... but without benefit .. plz. help