Dermal tissue

From Karnataka Open Educational Resources

Activity No # 1 - Observation of dermal tissue

Estimated Time

30 minutes

Materials/ Resources needed

A Nerium leaf, a microscope, glass slide, cover slip, glass dish, methylene blue, glycerine, blotting paper etc.

Prerequisites/Instructions, if any

Peel out lower skin of nerium leaf and observe it under microscope.Observe few specialised structures and draw the diagram.

Multimedia resources

Website interactives/ links/ simulations

Process (How to do the activity)

  • Take a nerium leaf.
  • Break the leaf by stretching it so that a peel of skin from the lower epidermis projects out.Remove 2 to 3 pieces of peel and place it in a glass dish with water.
  • Select a very fine peel and place it on a glass slide.
  • Add 1 to 2 drops of methylene blue on the section and wash the extra stain with water.
  • Add 1 to 2 drops of glycerine and cover the section with a cover slip gently and remove the extra stain with a blotting paper.
  • Mount the slide on the microscope.

Developmental Questions (What discussion questions)

  1. Did you see some specialised structures in the slide?
  2. What are they called?
  3. what is the structure of stomata?

Evaluation (Questions for assessment of the child)

  1. What is the function of stomata?
  2. What is the function of guard cells of stomata?

Question Corner

To link back to the topic page Plant tissues Back