Seeing Science Unfold: Year 11 Observe Plasmolysis in Action

In this week’s Biology lesson, our Year 11 pupils turned their attention to something usually invisible to the naked eye. Using their microscopes, they explored plasmolysis, observing how plant cells respond to different solutions. Working with onion cells, pupils carefully prepared their slides, adjusted the microscopes, and watched closely as the cells changed. As water moved out of the cells, the cell membrane slowly pulled away from the cell wall — a moment that brought the theory of osmosis vividly to life.

For many, it was a moment of genuine discovery. “When I looked through the microsope and saw the cell membrane pulling away from the wall, it suddenly made sense. It felt like discovering how cells actually behave in real life, not just in diagrams” Gia Hung reflected.

Experiences like this invite pupils to look more closely, ask thoughtful questions, and deepen their understanding through observation and discovery. At Brighton College Vietnam, science lessons often begin with curiosity – and sometimes, the smallest observations can open the door to a much bigger understanding of the living world.