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C3: Explore how the use of a microscope allows one to see cells in a variety organisms.

Curriculum Organizing Questions	How might you tell if something was part of an organism or not? How similar are cells from different parts of animals and plants? How similar are cells from the same parts of animals and plants? Why are microscopes useful tools for scientists?
Elaboration	This learning result is not meant to include how a light microscope works. Students should use the microscope to explore a variety of familiar living things so that they may get a sense for both the similarities in all cells and the differences between specialized cells. They should be encouraged to develop some sense of the smaller scale.
Specific Ideas	Microscopes make it possible to see that living things are made mostly of cells. Benchmarks 5C2 Some organisms' cells vary greatly in appearance. Benchmarks 5C2 Microscopes help us see differences in cells. Some parts of organisms are made up of a collection of similar cells. Benchmarks 5C2 The more powerful a microscope is, the more detail you can see in a cell or parts made up of cells.
Developmental & Instructional Implications	Much of this is a middle level idea in both Benchmarks and NSES. Some students may not yet possess the fine motor skills to successfully use light microscopes. Some students may think that organisms contain cells, rather than being composed of cells. Some pupils also seem to confuse the term cell with molecule. Driver p. 25
Examples

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