How to observe cells under a microscope

Let's take a look at how to observe cells under a microscope.

No prizes for guessing the first thing you'll need: a microscope. But don't worry if you don't have one of your own. Ask your school if they have one you can use. Then you'll need an onion. That's where you'll get your plant cells. Some food colouring - blue or green works best. A cotton bud. And a mouth. It's probably best to use your own.

So let's begin by looking at some plant cells. Cut a small chunk from your onion. Be careful with knives. Ask an adult if you need help. Peel a thin layer off that chunk and put it on your slide. This is what's called the epidermis. Using a drop of food colouring, stain the layer so you can see the cells. Pop a cover slip on the slide and then put the slide onto the microscope. Take a look! Check out that strong cell wall structure. It's solid so that it keeps a plant's shape and structure.

But this experiment isn't over. You can look at some animal cells too.

Grab a fresh slide and pop a drop of your food colouring on there. Take your cotton bud and rub the inside of your cheek. Told you you'd need a mouth. Transfer the cheek cells to the slide by rubbing the swab all over it. Drop the cover slip on the slide and stick it on the microscope. Go find those animal cells! Unlike the plant cells, animal cells are soft and fleshy. Animals don't need cells to keep their structure. That's what skeletons are for.

And there you have it. Now you have the skills to look at really tiny things.