Section 2. Cells. 3.2 The Electron Microscope Year 12 AQA and OCR Biology

Section 2 Cells 3.2 The Electron Microscope Year 12 AQA and OCR Biology

This whole lesson is fully resourced with a powerpoint presentation (including all the activities) plus exam questions, providing you with high quality lesson resources to achieve the learning objectives: Explain how electron microscopes work; Explain the differences between a transmission electron microscope and a scanning electron microscope; Describe the limitations of the TEM and SEM.

Updated with exam questions on Microscopes November 2025.

The descriptions of each activity and how it aligns to each of the learning objectives is given below:

1. Explain how electron microscopes work - engaging starter activity where pupils are shown a series of images where they must decide if each image is taken using a Light or Electron Microscope. The extension or challenge activity is to identify what the micrograph is actually of - all answers provided in the presentation.

2. Explain the differences between a transmission electron microscope and a scanning electron microscope - information slides are provided on the early microscopes of Leeuwenhoek and Hooke and describes the compound or light microscope - activity to label the Compound Microscope - the labelling diagram is prepared as a slide - just print! Answers provided in the powerpoint for peer or self review (AfL). pdf version of labelling activity is also provided for those that prefer to print from pdf.

3. Describe the limitation of the transmission and the scanning electron microscopes - pupils are given an information sheets spread around the room on the compound microscope, transmission and scanning electron microscopes (you can print these from the ppt or a pdf version of this activity is also provided for those that prefer to print from pdf.) and hunt the answers around the room to complete their table (print from ppt or separate pdf too) comparing each type of microscope. Answers provided in presentation.

4. For those students that finish early or as a homework task there is a set of exam questions on Microscopes and the mark scheme is provided (word doc).

The lesson finishes with a self-evaluation slide where pupils can reflect on their learning objectives and identify their corresponding level/grade.