stomata lab

Right now students in my class are wrapping up our the PHOTOSYNTHESIS & PLANT UNIT. One of the things students needed to know is the role of stomata in the leaves of plants.

Stomata are small openings in the underside of a leaf that allow gases to flow in and out of the cell. It is surrounded by two guard cells that open and close, depending on various factors.

Stomata are easily found in a plant called a Wandering Jew plant because the underside of the leaves are purple, whereas the stomata are a bright green color.

Yesterday students identified stomata first using a magnifying glass and then using a microscope. Below are some photos of their findings:

4x magnification

 

10x magnification

40x magnification