Food microbiology Lesson Plans

Students examine the variety of food preservation methods available today. In groups, they participate in an experiment to determine the conditions that encourage or stop the growth of bacteria. To end the lessons, they discuss the importance of perserving food.

Students grow bacteria cultures on agar in petri dishes and do a plate count. They participate in a yogurt making lab to see how bacteria produce lactic acid. They prepare a recipe and identify fungi, fermentation and the role of microorganisms.

Students use the scientific process of investigation to explore the mechanics of making ice cream, bread, pancakes, Kool-Aid and cake. They research foods and agriculture from the 1930's.

Eighth graders study the physical and functional characteristics of bacteria.  In this microbiology lesson students complete a lab on measuring bacteria growth. 

Students examine the importance of food safety. For this food safety lesson, students identify safe practices to follow in assuring that food is safe from the farm/ranch to the table.

Learners discuss and conduct a food safety experiment which looks at bacteria and food poisoning. They swab the other area of some food and grow bacteria in an agar plate.

Students investigate and determine which types of carbohydrates Baker's yeast prefers. They crumble Cheerios, Smarties, and Fruit Loops and feed them to the yeast and watch what happens, when the bags begin to barf.

Students investigate the characteristics and nature of yeast and molds help to explain how these microorganisms affect food production. They experiment with yeast in sourdough in preparing sourdough pancakes.

Students grow bacteria and/or fungi from a variety of locations and compare the results. In this microbe identification instructional activity, students discover that microbes are everywhere and some readily grow on sources of food and water through experimenting with bacteria grown in Petri dishes.

Students use their observation and inquiry skills to understand microbes. In this microbiology lesson, students explore slides with a microscope. Students gain experience with preparing slides and proper use of a microscope while exploring bacteria, yeast and paramecia.