PALS - Administration Procedures

Grade 9-12 Performance Task
Developed by: New York State Education Department (NYSED)
University of Buffalo and NORC (1991)

Description:

In this activity, students will demonstrate their ability to use a compound light microscope through four procedures: preparing a slide, focusing on a slide under the microscope at both low and high power, and measuring the diameter of an onion cell and slide under 100X magnification.

This task assesses students' abilities to use scientific equipment appropriately and record accurate measurements.

This task is designed to take students approximately 40 minutes to complete.

Overall Task Content Area:

Life Science

Specific Knowledge Areas:

The cell

Performance Expectations:

using equipment
gathering, organizing, and representing data

National Science Education Standards:

12 A SI 1: Abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry: Grades 9-12
1.3 Use technology and mathematics to improve investigations and communications. A variety of technologies, such as hand tools, measuring instruments, and calculators, should be an integral component of scientific investigations. The use of computers for the collection, analysis, and display of data is also a part of this standard. Mathematics plays an essential role in all aspects of an inquiry. For example, measurement is used for posing questions, formulas are used for developing explanations, and charts and graphs are used for communicating results.

12 A SI 2: Understandings about scientific inquiry: Grades 9-12
2.3 Scientists rely on technology to enhance the gathering and manipulation of data. New techniques and tools provide new evidence to guide inquiry and new methods to gather data, thereby contributing to the advance of science. The accuracy and precision of the data, and therefore the quality of the exploration, depends on the technology used.

12 C LS 1: The cell: Grades 9-12
1.1 Cells have particular structures that underlie their functions. Every cell is surrounded by a membrane that separates it from the outside world. Inside the cell is a concentrated mixture of thousands of different molecules which form a variety of specialized structures that carry out such cell functions as energy production, transport of molecules, waste disposal, synthesis of new molecules, and the storage of genetic material.

(Use the "hot" link on the PALS home page to check the full text of related National Science Education Standards, if desired.)

National Council of Teachers of Mathematics:

NO3: Compute fluently and make reasonable estimates:
Grades 9-12 n. develop fluency in operations with real numbers, vectors, and matrices, using mental computation or paper-and-pencil calculations for simple cases and technology for more-complicated cases
Grades 9-12 o. judge the reasonableness of numerical computations and their results

MEAS2: Apply appropriate techniques, tools, and formulas to determine measurements:
Grades 9-12 q. understand and use formulas for the area, surface area, and volume of geometric figures, including cones, spheres, and cylinders

PS2: Solve problems that arise in mathematics and in other contexts:
Grades 9-12

General Instructions to the Teacher:

This task is designed to take approximately 40 minutes to complete.

Students will be working individually during this exercise.

Students should be ready to work as soon as the period begins. The materials should be set out at each lab station, if possible. A central supply area, if needed, should be easily accessible. All supplies should be clearly labeled.

Materials for "Using the Microscope":

Advance Preparation:

The following microscope parts and their uses should be reviewed with the students to re-acquaint them with their function.

The basic technique for focusing a specimen under both low and high power should be briefly reviewed to prevent possible damage to the microscope. Remind students that only the fine adjustment should be used on high power to sharpen the image.