Second Grade Plant Cell Study

Second grade had a very special visitor this week! Upper school science teacher, Lisa Peck, was a guest expert during our in-depth plant study. The students worked in partnerships to make a slide using an Elodea leaf to observe the cells using a microscope. They observed the cell walls, which are like Tupperware containers giving strength and support to the cells (like our bones do for us). They also observed the chloroplasts, which the green plant cells use to make food during a process, called photosynthesis.

Next the students observed the cells of an onion skin. They were able to see the cell walls but no chloroplasts. Hmmm, I wonder why? You will have to ask a second grader!

The onion skin cells were stained with iodine which enabled them to see the cell’s nucleus. They learned the nucleus is the “boss” of the cell. These are actual photos we took of the cell walls through the microscopes! The second graders loved using the microscopes! We have lots of budding scientists at Shorecrest!