Microbial physiology Lesson Plans

Students explore composting. In this composting lesson, students use compound microscopes to observe the microbial communities in compost. Observations and documentation of changes will occur over the course of several weeks.

Students explore how gene sequence analysis can be used to examine phylogenetic similarities of different organisms. Students work in groups to simulate a gel electrophoresis separation of fragments using poster board to create their gel.

Students explain the concept of gene sequence analysis. In this gene lesson, students draw inferences about phylogenetic similarities of different organisms.

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 examine the properties in oil in water. For this mixture lesson, students read about the Lophelia II 2010: Cold Seeps and Deep Reef Expedition and look at images of deep sea ecosystems. They experiment or participate in demonstrations of how water behaves in water. They draw conclusions from the information on the student recording sheet.

Students explore the concept of paleoclimatological proxies.  In this paleoclimatological proxies lesson, students explain isotope ratios in deep water coral samples.  Students write a paragraph about global climate change as it effects their life.

Students discuss metabolism. In this metabolism lesson, students evaluate evidence form a research report and discuss the basis for hypothetical metabolic adaptations to low-oxygen environments in the anchialine caves.

Students choose a question from a given list and develop an investigation about it. In this biology activity, students analyze bacterial growth by carrying out a guided experiment. They present their findings in class.

Students study galvanic exchange and how it produces electric currents.  In this ocean lesson students predict what metals deteriorate in salt water. 

Students perform experiments to determine the PH, acidity, and buffering qualities of a lake that make them sensitive to acid deposition.