I thought this was funny. Eighth graders are learning how to use microscopes to learn about cells. We started with some basic lessons on how to use the fine and coarse focus, field of view, and focal plane. Then students began their exploration of the microscopic view of living things by looking a elodea leaves. At 400x magnification you can really see the individual plant cells and we were hoping to find evidence that plants are truly living things so I told kids to watch for movement within the cells. It’s called cytoplasmic streaming as the chloroplasts move in the cytoplasm within each cell.
Here’s a video I showed the kids when our elodea plants showed no sign of cytoplasmic streaming:
Obviously there was disappointed that our elodea didn’t do that. So kids asked why ours wasn’t showing any movement within the cells. I figured it had something to do with how I stored the plants in class, maybe the fact that I used tap water instead of pond water or even non-chlorinated water, or maybe that it’s quite warm in our classroom. I told them that maybe I killed them. Here’s a paraphrase of one particular dialogue with one 8th grader:
8th grader: You killed them?!
Me: Yeah, I think I did because none of them are showing any cytoplasmic streaming.
8th grader: Then you need to go to plant jail!
Later as the 8th graders were leaving the room to go to their next class.
Me to the 8th grader who said I should go to plant jail: You’re right, I do need to go to plant jail. I need to be put in a plant cell. 🙂
Okay, I was highly amused myself.
