Peel a small section of onion tissue and place on the centre of a microscope slide.
Add water using a drop pipette to the onion tissue to stop it drying out
Gently lower a coverslip onto the onion tissue. The coverslip will help protect the lens should the lens make contact with the slide, and it also prevents the cells from drying out
Set the slide onto the stage of the microscope and examine using low power first and then high power
Making a slide of animal cells
Using your nail or an inter-tooth brush, gently scrape the inside of your cheek
Smear the material gathered onto the centre of a microscope slide
Carefully lower a coverslip on top, as described in plant cells
Observe using a light microscope; first at low power, the using high power
Calculating magnification
Total magnification = eyepiece lens x objective lens
eyepiece lens is always x10
objective lens is usually x4, x10 or x40
Purpose of staining
To enhance visualisation
when lowering the coverslip
It is important to lower one end first to avoid air bubbles
