Living things and the processes of life
 The processes of life

Pupil Activity

selection of honey (e.g. sunflower, eucalyptus, orange blossom)
hot water
centrifuge* liaise with secondary school teacher for the use of centrifuge
centrifuge tubes
plastic dropper
microscope slide
cover slip
stain
oven 50 – 60°C (optional)
teaspoon
measuring jug
pollen identification from list of pollen photos

• Put a teaspoon of the selected honey in 20 cm³ hot water.
• Stir to dissolve.
• Centrifuge this honey solution in two centrifuge tubes for 5 to 10 minutes at 3000 rpm.
• Suck up and discard all but one drop of the liquid left in the centrifuge tube.
• Mix the light brown spot of pollen with the drop of liquid left in the tube.
• Put a small spot of this on a slide.
• Leave to dry and add a drop of stain.
• Put a coverslip on top of the stained slide and examine under the microscope.
• Match any pollen grains to the pollen identification list.