University of Minnesota
C. elegans and the Search for Extraterrestrial Life
Introduce the topic of astrobiology in a unit that's out of this world. Biology scholars examine the search for extraterrestrial life by culturing roundworms, a species that has been key in helping researchers understand the challenges...
Curated OER
Demonstrating an Epidemic
Young scholars use an experiment that allows them to experience a small scale "epidemic", demonstrating the ease with which disease organisms are spread. Students determine the originator of the epidemic. They transfer live bacteria by...
Curated OER
Yo! Gert-making yogurt
Young scientists or chefs culture yeast to produce yogurt. The materials and a general description of how make yogurt are provided, but there is very little detail otherwise. You could use this as an activity when your biology class is...
Curated OER
F.B.I.
Students create a worm bin full of fruit and vegetable scraps wit paper and observe what happens over time. In this decomposers lesson plan, students observe that the fruit and vegetable scraps become new soil.
Curated OER
Selecting Soil Organisms in Compost
Students conduct an experiment to demonstrate that many of the enzyme systems needed to break down society's wastes exist in nature among the decomposers in a compost pile. They culture compost bacteria on starch agar to examine the...
Curated OER
Which Household Cleaners or Soaps Work Best Against Bacteria?
High schoolers experiment to determine the efficacy of various household cleaning products and soaps as antibacterial agents. They work in groups to complete this four part lesson series which includes identifying household bacteria,...
Curated OER
Predicting the Growth of Microorganisms
Students determine where microorganisms might be found around their school. In this scientific investigation lesson, students collect cultures from various locations and place these in petri dishes. They incubate the cultures to see if...
Curated OER
On the Microbe Trail: Bacteria and Aseptic Technique
Learners pour, label, streak, seal and store plates in an incubator. They identify areas in their environment that provide a rich fauna of microbes once they have been swabbed. They identify areas of contamination through a laboratory...
Curated OER
Palm Use in Biology
Students view bacteria through a microscope. They draw and label the bacteria using microbiology software loaded onto their Palms.
Curated OER
Food Safety Lab
Learners determine the optimal living conditions for yeast and apply these results to microbes in food. In this microbiology lab lesson, students observe the reaction of yeast to elevated temperatures. They relate these results to safe...
Curated OER
It's Alive! Using Microorganisms in Cooking
Students create a KWL chart about food. In this chemistry lesson, students differentiate physical and chemical changes. They explain how microorganisms are used in food preparation.
Curated OER
Introductory Microbiology
Students view a Reading Rainbow video on germs and discuss microbial diseases. They grow cultures of Staphylococcus aureus and then estimate and graph the count for their own bodies and those of the class.
Curated OER
Black Death Biology
Students in pairs explore the transmission of the Plague, through experimentation. Cooperative groups use the scientific method to solve the fictional problem of a bacteria spreading in the Amazon. Groups also create a vector to visually...
Curated OER
DNA Basics, Bacterial Cell Walls
Some basic descriptions of DNA and the appearance of structures in a bacteria are included along with great diagrams. The presentation has clear, but detailed slides, and your students will find the information about Gram staining easy...
Nuffield Foundation
Investigating Anti-Microbial Action
Join the fight against bacteria. An open investigation shows pupils different aspects of antimicrobial substances, such as disinfectants, deodorants, or plant oils. They design and conduct their own experiments on the effectiveness of...
Curated OER
Germ Busters
Learners discuss importance of cleanliness, specifically hand-washing, in fighting germs and illness. They create cultures of their hands before washing, and then practice proper hand-washing technique.
Curated OER
CONCEPTS IN NUMBER THEORY.
Students study the Maya culture and their achievements in mathematics, how bacteria grow exponentially, use rational numbers to convert back and forth between Celsius and degrees Fahrenheit, how some architectural designs are examples of...
Curated OER
Lights On - We Have A Quorum
Students explore basic bacteriological techniques. They investigate cell to cell communication and become aware of the environmental and evolutionary implications of this communication.
Curated OER
What Color is Your Colony?
Students conduct an experiment to change the color of E. coli bacteria using genetic engineering. They work in small groups to add a plasmid containing a gene for red pigment to the bacteria and culture the bacteria to see if it ...
Curated OER
Using A Winogradsky Column to Analyze Microbial Communities
Young scholars use easily obtained materials to study ecological succession in a microbiological community. This investigation is appropriate for a variety of age groups. Elementary Students be fascinated by the changes occurring over...
Curated OER
Observing the Development of Drosophila in Apple Juice Agar
Students observe the development of the Drosophila fly. They observe the first two stages - the egg and the 3 larval instars. They observe the culture every day for 8 days using a stereo dissecting microscope.
Curated OER
Investigating the Regulation of Leukocyte Adhesion Through Extracellular Matrices
Young scholars examine the relationship between leukocyte adhesion and migration in response to chemoattractants. They discuss sterile techniques, observe a demonstration using mock cell culture, and develop a procedure for studying the...
Curated OER
Disease Prevention
Fifth graders examine the various causes of the common cold. Using the internet, they identify the proper way to take care and treat a cold. They also describe the procedure to complete a throat culture. To end the instructional...
Curated OER
Introduction to Aseptic Techniques
Students study bacteria and aseptic microbiology laboratory techniques. They discover how to pour, label, streak, seal and store plates in an incubator and articulate what they have learned via an informational laboratory poster.
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