6.3
PERFORM AN ACTIVITY
Examining Unicellular
Organisms
SKILLS MENU
In the first part of this activity, you will examine prepared slides of
unicellular organisms under a compound microscope. In the second
part of this activity, you will prepare a wet mount of paramecia
culture.
The paramecium, a ciliated micro-organism, is one of the most
complex of the unicellular organisms. Paramecia are commonly found
in bodies of water such as ponds, lakes, rivers, and mud. They are
covered in cilia, which they use to swim from place to place in their
environment (Figure 1).
direction of
locomotion
Questioning
Hypothesizing
Predicting
Planning
Controlling
Variables
Performing
Observing
Analyzing
Evaluating
Communicating
LINKING TO LITERACY
Reading Procedural Text
Reading and understanding
the steps in an activity is
essential to completing the
task. As you preview the
instructions, note the signal
words that tell you what to
do. Signal words indicate the
order in which to do things, and
when to make comparisons,
provide descriptions, or identify
processes. How do these words
help you better understand the
task to be completed?
Figure 1 Paramecia swim with a spiralling motion.
Purpose
To observe prepared slides of unicellular
organisms, and of Paramecium culture using the
compound microscope.
compound
microscope
2 eyedroppers
slide and cover slip Paramecium culture
Equipment and Materials
• apron
• microscope
• prepared slides of unicellular organisms,
including Paramecium
• 2 eyedroppers
• slide and cover slip
• Paramecium culture
• 10 % glycerine
prepared slides of
unicellular organisms,
including Paramecium
apron
10 % glycerine
62 Chapter 6 • Organizing Cells
NEL