1. Biology 1, Philippine Science High School – Main Campus
Laboratory Activity # ___: A VARIETY OF MICROORGANISMS
Kingdom Protista includes plant-like, animal-like, and fungus-like organisms.
Protists are thought of as simple organisms, but a closer examination reveals that they
possess a variety of specialized structures. They are eukaryotic, which means that they
have a nucleus enclosed in a nuclear envelope. Protists also possess other organelles
that perform different functions. Though some members exhibit cell specialization, all
of them are unicellular. These organisms are usually found in some type of damp or
watery environment.
Objectives
1. To observe the characteristics of different kinds of microorganisms.
2. To identify various protists by determining the organisms’ means of
locomotion.
Materials: (per group; to be provided by the teacher, except for those marked *)
For preparation of hay infusion For observation of protists
culture
Wide-mouthed jar* Compound light microscope
Dried hay/grass cuttings/leaves* Glass slides and cover slips*
Garden soil* Medicine dropper
Tap water Forceps
Pond water Cotton
Porous material to cover jar*
Rubber band*
Methodology
I. Preparation of hay infusion culture medium
1. Prepare the culture medium around one to two weeks prior to observation.
2. Place the dried hay or grass cuttings and dried leaves inside the wide-
mouthed jar. Add approximately one to two tablespoons of loose garden
soil. Fill the jar to ¾ of its volume with tap water. Add a dropper of pond
water.
3. Cover the jar with a piece of porous material and secure with a rubber band.
4. Place the jar in a dry area that is not directly exposed to sunlight.
II. Observing a variety of microorganisms
1. Prepare fresh wet mounts of microorganisms. With a medicine dropper,
obtain some drops of slimy water from the surface of the hay infusion
culture. Place this drop on a clean glass slide, add some cotton fibers on the
drop of liquid (to slow down the movement of the microorganisms), and add
a cover slip.
2. Focus under LPO and look for moving microorganisms. Then, focus under
HPO and observe carefully. Record your observations by making the
necessary marks on Table 1 under Results. Make a drawing of each kind of
microorganism that you see.
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2. 3. Repeat steps 1 and 2, but this time get water samples from near the bottom
of the culture medium. Complete Table 1 for each new organism that you
observe, and make a drawing of each organism as seen under HPO.
4. Repeat steps 1 to 3 until you think you have exhausted and observed all the
different microorganisms that might be found in your hay infusion jar.
Laboratory Activity # ___: A VARIETY OF MICROORGANISMS
(WORKSHEET)
Section & Group
No.:
CNs & Names:
Date(s) performed: Date submitted:
Table 1. (Descriptive Title)
Characteristic Organism 1 Organism 2 Organism 3 Organism 4 Organism 5
s
Location in jar
Shape
Color
Nucleus1
Chloroplast(s)
1
Structure for
movement2
Classification3
Identification4
Drawing 5 See Fig # See Fig # See Fig # See Fig # See Fig #
Countersignatur
e
& date
Characteristic Organism 6 Organism 7 Organism 8 Organism 9 Organism 10
s
Location in jar
Shape
Color
Nucleus1
Chloroplast(s)
1
Structure for
movement2
Classification3
Identification4
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3. Drawing 5 See Fig # See Fig # See Fig # See Fig # See Fig #
Countersignatur
e
& date
(1)  if present/visible,  if absent/not visible
(2) cilia, flagellum/flagella, pseudopodia, none
(3) unicellular algae (euglenophyte, dinoflagellate, chrysophyte, bacillariophyte),
protozoa (ciliate, zooflagellate, sarcodine, sporozoan), slime mold (Refer to
appropriate textbooks, websites for further details on classification)
(4) Use appropriate reference materials to aid in identification (ex. Protist Information
Server - http://protist.i.hosei.ac.jp/protist_menue.html)
(5) Place your drawings at the back of this page, complete with proper figure number
and title, and labels of important cell structures
* You may print additional copies of this table if needed.
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