Micro-organismsKingfishers Autumn 1 2013

Introduction

• What do we know about micro organisms?

• How do we know if something is living or dead?

• What will disclosing tablets reveal about the micro-organisms in our mouths?

Why does the tongue have so much bacteria on it?

Can you get a soap version of disclosing tablets to show the

bacteria on your hands?

There is lots of old bacteria at the back of the mouth

Our questions and ideas

• We looked at a range of objects including a cut flower, a toothbrush, a mouldy piece of bread, a plant and some fruit. We tried to describe if they were living or dead and how we knew

The picked flower is living because it is dying and isn’t

dead yet.

Mouldy bread is alive because it has bacteria on it and bacteria are

living things.

The plant is alive because it’s green.

It’s living because it can die.

It’s dead because it’s been picked

It’s dead because it can’t do anything

It’s dead because it doesn’t do anything useful

The picked flower is dead because it’s getting no life from

the plantThe picked flower is dead

because it has no stuff for it to grow with

The toothbrush is neither dead nor alive because it was never alive. To

die, something must first live.

Our questions and ideas

• We watched a film to spark our questions and ideas

What was yoghurt doing in a film about microorganisms?

How many different foods does bacteria grow on?

How many types of mould are there?

Can mould grow on or in a human body?

Why was a man (surgeon) putting yellow stuff on his arm?

How is blue cheese a micro-organism?

Why do bread, cakes and cheese get the most mouldy?

How does mould grow?

If mould is alive, why does it not move?

How does mould get on to the bread?

How does mould form in liquid??

How many shapes does bacteria come in?

How did this (food getting mouldy) happen? Can it be

beaten?

How many places can mould form?

How does mould form?

Is mould formed by living life forms or is it a life form in itself?

What did that green gloopy puddle have to do with

microorganisms?

What did injecting yourself have to do with germs?

Why do bacteria like rotting food so much?

How long does something take to turn to mould? How quickly

does it spread?

Our questions and ideas

• We were challenged to find 3 fascinating facts about micro organisms that we could persuade the class to explore further

• We used iPads to do some speedy research then presented our facts to the class and put it to the vote

Kingfishers’ Fascinating Microorganism Facts to Explore Further6th September 2013

Bacteria feeds on leaves and breaks them down into nutrients. They are a vital part of our eco system. Some micro-organisms are single celled, some are microscopic and some are visible to the naked human eye Viruses cause diseases like measles, chicken pox, sore throats and conjunctivitis Most bacteria in your nose are good for you. Most micro-organisms are not harmful. Some are even helpful. Micro-organisms can grow in hot springs over 90 degrees Celsius Yeast is a fungus. Micro-organisms are generally classified as living things Yoghurt is made of microorganisms Micro-organisms are used to make some food including chocolate Things feed on other things to make bacteria Fungi digest the grass eaten by cows There are 2-3 billion microorganisms but only 5% are have been found Fungi are used to make medicine Bacteria helps us digest food

Microorganisms can spread just by a person coughing There are about Microorganism can spread just by a person coughing There are about 159,00 species of microorganisms, including viruses, bacteria, protozoa and fungi Bacteria help us digest food Micro-organisms affect the global climate Micro-organisms were around 3.5 billion years ago species of microorganisms, including viruses, bacteria, protozoa and fungi Bacteria help us digest food Micro-organisms affect the global climate Micro-organisms were around 3.5 billion years ago

Yeast InvestigationWe carried out an investigation to see We carried out an investigation to see

which temperature yeast preferswhich temperature yeast prefersWe carried out an investigation to see We carried out an investigation to see

which temperature yeast preferswhich temperature yeast prefers

We gave it sugar to feed on and put it in cold, warm We gave it sugar to feed on and put it in cold, warm or hot water in a bottle with a balloon on top. As it or hot water in a bottle with a balloon on top. As it feeds, it produces gas which blows up the balloon. feeds, it produces gas which blows up the balloon.

The faster and bigger the balloon inflated, the more The faster and bigger the balloon inflated, the more the yeast was thriving in its conditions.the yeast was thriving in its conditions.

We gave it sugar to feed on and put it in cold, warm We gave it sugar to feed on and put it in cold, warm or hot water in a bottle with a balloon on top. As it or hot water in a bottle with a balloon on top. As it feeds, it produces gas which blows up the balloon. feeds, it produces gas which blows up the balloon.

The faster and bigger the balloon inflated, the more The faster and bigger the balloon inflated, the more the yeast was thriving in its conditions.the yeast was thriving in its conditions.

Cold waterCold waterCold waterCold water Warm waterWarm waterWarm waterWarm water Hot waterHot waterHot waterHot water

The yeast The yeast produced the produced the

most gas in the most gas in the shortest time in shortest time in the warm waterthe warm water

The yeast The yeast produced the produced the

most gas in the most gas in the shortest time in shortest time in the warm waterthe warm water

Therefore we Therefore we concluded concluded

yeast prefers yeast prefers warm warm

conditions.conditions.

Therefore we Therefore we concluded concluded

yeast prefers yeast prefers warm warm

conditions.conditions.

This suggests This suggests yeast is living yeast is living because it is because it is

sensitive to its sensitive to its environmentenvironment

This suggests This suggests yeast is living yeast is living because it is because it is

sensitive to its sensitive to its environmentenvironment

MRMRS S NERGNERGMRMRS S NERGNERG

Banana ObservationWe observed bananas left for We observed bananas left for

two weeks - some had yeast on two weeks - some had yeast on them, others didn't.them, others didn't.

We observed bananas left for We observed bananas left for two weeks - some had yeast on two weeks - some had yeast on

them, others didn't.them, others didn't.

The bananas with The bananas with yeast on yeast on

decomposed more decomposed more quickly, turning to quickly, turning to liquid by the end of liquid by the end of

the two weeks.the two weeks.

The bananas with The bananas with yeast on yeast on

decomposed more decomposed more quickly, turning to quickly, turning to liquid by the end of liquid by the end of

the two weeks.the two weeks.

This shows how This shows how micro-micro-

organisms help organisms help to break down to break down

wastewaste

This shows how This shows how micro-micro-

organisms help organisms help to break down to break down

wastewaste It suggests that It suggests that micro-micro-

organisms are organisms are living because living because the yeast was the yeast was feeding on the feeding on the

banana banana

It suggests that It suggests that micro-micro-

organisms are organisms are living because living because the yeast was the yeast was feeding on the feeding on the

banana banana MRS MRS NNERGERGMRS MRS NNERGERG

No yeast after 2 No yeast after 2 weeksweeks

No yeast after 2 No yeast after 2 weeksweeks

With yeast after With yeast after 2 weeks2 weeks

With yeast after With yeast after 2 weeks2 weeks

Micro-Organism Hunt

We searched the school for micro-organisms at We searched the school for micro-organisms at work. We took photos on the iPads and created work. We took photos on the iPads and created

mind maps of the useful and harmful micro-mind maps of the useful and harmful micro-organisms all around us. organisms all around us.

We searched the school for micro-organisms at We searched the school for micro-organisms at work. We took photos on the iPads and created work. We took photos on the iPads and created

mind maps of the useful and harmful micro-mind maps of the useful and harmful micro-organisms all around us. organisms all around us.

Sterile Hands?We washed our hands We washed our hands

very carefully, very carefully, following instructions following instructions from paramedic Mr from paramedic Mr Eves (Katie's dad)Eves (Katie's dad)

We washed our hands We washed our hands very carefully, very carefully,

following instructions following instructions from paramedic Mr from paramedic Mr Eves (Katie's dad)Eves (Katie's dad)

Then we scrubbed our hands Then we scrubbed our hands following instructions for following instructions for

surgeons. Surgeons have to surgeons. Surgeons have to be much more thorough and be much more thorough and

it took AGES!it took AGES!

Then we scrubbed our hands Then we scrubbed our hands following instructions for following instructions for

surgeons. Surgeons have to surgeons. Surgeons have to be much more thorough and be much more thorough and

it took AGES!it took AGES!

Surgeons have to use anti-Surgeons have to use anti-microbial soap to make sure their microbial soap to make sure their hands are sterile before operating. hands are sterile before operating. These soaps are now available for These soaps are now available for

use in the home but do we need to use in the home but do we need to have sterile hands at home? Are have sterile hands at home? Are

these soaps good for us?these soaps good for us?

Surgeons have to use anti-Surgeons have to use anti-microbial soap to make sure their microbial soap to make sure their hands are sterile before operating. hands are sterile before operating. These soaps are now available for These soaps are now available for

use in the home but do we need to use in the home but do we need to have sterile hands at home? Are have sterile hands at home? Are

these soaps good for us?these soaps good for us?

We considered the arguments We considered the arguments for and against using anti-for and against using anti-

bacterial soap in the home and bacterial soap in the home and found scientific evidence to found scientific evidence to

support both arguments before support both arguments before coming to our own conclusions.coming to our own conclusions.

We considered the arguments We considered the arguments for and against using anti-for and against using anti-

bacterial soap in the home and bacterial soap in the home and found scientific evidence to found scientific evidence to

support both arguments before support both arguments before coming to our own conclusions.coming to our own conclusions.

Glo-germ GelWe used a special We used a special

gel,which showed, under gel,which showed, under UV light, where the UV light, where the

bacteria collects on our bacteria collects on our hands.hands.

We used a special We used a special gel,which showed, under gel,which showed, under

UV light, where the UV light, where the bacteria collects on our bacteria collects on our

hands.hands.

The Immune System

We played an information-trading We played an information-trading game where we learned about game where we learned about

different aspects of our immune different aspects of our immune system from info cards and system from info cards and

explained what we had learned to explained what we had learned to other groups. other groups.

We played an information-trading We played an information-trading game where we learned about game where we learned about

different aspects of our immune different aspects of our immune system from info cards and system from info cards and

explained what we had learned to explained what we had learned to other groups. other groups.

We used the badger learning app We used the badger learning app to complete a quiz on the to complete a quiz on the immune system set by our immune system set by our

teacher. teacher.

We used the badger learning app We used the badger learning app to complete a quiz on the to complete a quiz on the immune system set by our immune system set by our

teacher. teacher.

Then we made our own Then we made our own quizzes or fact files on the quizzes or fact files on the

immune system and immune system and vaccination.vaccination.

Then we made our own Then we made our own quizzes or fact files on the quizzes or fact files on the

immune system and immune system and vaccination.vaccination.

We read 'The Death of We read 'The Death of Smallpox' and learned Smallpox' and learned

about Edward Jenner and about Edward Jenner and the first vaccinations.the first vaccinations.

We read 'The Death of We read 'The Death of Smallpox' and learned Smallpox' and learned

about Edward Jenner and about Edward Jenner and the first vaccinations.the first vaccinations.