MICROSCOPIC LIFE ENDURING UNDERSTANDING The diversity of cells

MICROSCOPIC LIFE

ENDURING UNDERSTANDING • The diversity of cells contributes to the diversity of life on Earth.

LEARNING GOAL • I will observe and study microorganisms.

MINIPOND HABITATS • Today we will see if anything is living in our miniponds. • How can we explore our ponds for life?

STRATEGIES FOR EXPLORING • Just like any pond, your miniponds can be divided into regions. • Different regions of the pond might be used by different kinds of organisms. • What regions might we sample?

MINIPOND SAFARI • What is a safari? • How could we conduct a safari with our miniponds?

WET MOUNT • Remember: slide, liquid, coverslip • It is ok to use a coverslip because all the organisms are so small they won’t be squished!

MULTICELLULAR AND UNICELLULAR • Multicellular= many cells (parts like legs, guts, and feelers will be evident) – Brine shrimp are multicellular • Unicellular= single celled organisms. Only one cell!

MICROORGANISM GUIDE • Open your Diversity of Life Books to pages 4 -7. • This has the microorganism guide you can use to identify organisms you see in your microscope.

RESULTS • Did you see anything alive in there when you put your pond together? • Where do you think all those organisms came from? • How did they get in your pond?

DIAPAUSE • Some microorganisms can lapse into a state of diapause, which is sort of like hibernation. The organism is sealed tightly against the outside environment. In this state it can blow around in the wind or lay on the dry ground, waiting for proper conditions to resume its aquatic existence.

WORD BANK • Multicellular- organism containing more than one cell (parts like legs, guts, feelers, etc). • Unicellular- a one-celled organism. • Diapause- organism in hibernation waiting for aquatic environment.