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Science at key stage 3    (Year 8)

Unit 8C: Microbes and disease
Section 1: a. What are micro-organisms and how do we grow them?

QCA

Objectives
Children should learn:
  • that there are different types of micro-organism
  • that many micro-organisms are useful, eg fungi are a source of antibiotics and are used in making food products

Activities

Outcomes
Children:
  • Use oral questions to establish what pupils know about micro-organisms.
  • Provide pupils with stimulus material to explore the range of micro-organisms and their uses or occurrence, eg bread, yoghurt, wine as useful products of micro-organisms, mushrooms and other fungi, large-scale photomicrographs of bacteria and viruses, advertisements for materials which kill household germs, an empty antibiotic bottle. Provide them with additional secondary sources, eg video clips, simulation software providing further information about micro-organisms. Discuss pupils' observations with them and help them construct a table comparing the three kinds of micro-organism.
  • identify three types of micro-organism, eg bacteria, viruses, fungi
  • describe the features of each of these three types of micro-organism in terms of, eg relative size, shape, structure

Points to note
  • Pupils learn in key stage 2 that there are micro-organisms that cause rotting and disease, and that micro-organisms are used to make foods. However, they may not have used terms such as, 'bacteria', 'virus' or 'fungi'.

    • Safety

    • pupils should not be allowed to eat food samples. All cultures should be sealed. Mouldy food should be sealed in plastic bags, containers or Petri dishes to ensure spores are not released

Sections in this unit

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This unit is divided into sections. Each section contains a sequence of activities with related objectives and outcomes. You can view this unit by moving through the sections or print/download the whole unit.
1. a. What are micro-organisms and how do we grow them?
2. b. What are micro-organisms and how do we grow them?
3. c. What are micro-organisms and how do we grow them?
4. a. Can micro-organisms be harmful?
5. b. Can micro-organisms be harmful?
6. Checking progress
7. a. How can we protect ourselves against infectious diseases?
8. b. How can we protect ourselves against infectious diseases?
9. c. How can we protect ourselves against infectious diseases?
10. d. How can we protect ourselves against infectious diseases?
11. Reviewing work