Page 23 - FOUNDATIONS FOR LIFE; EXPLORING GOD’S UNIVERSE
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Science Y5 – Living and non-living things – week 8
MICRO-ORGANISMS
Truth to Teach (Source)
To recognise that micro-organisms exist and that some can be beneficial, but some can be
harmful.
To learn that micro-organisms feed, grow and reproduce.
Way to Work (Means)
1. Review the previous lesson.
2. Pass around mouldy cheese, bread, fruit, etc in plastic bags for the children to examine with
magnifiers. Discuss observations.
3. Find out how much the children already know about micro-organisms. Explain that the words
‘micro-organism’, ‘germ’, ‘virus’, and ‘microbe’, ‘bacteria’ all mean the same. Explain that they
are found in air, water and soil and well as on living organisms. Show pictures of microbes.
4. Explain that there are harmful microbes but also ones which are beneficial. Give some
background information or let the children find out more from the Internet or books. Make a
list of harmful and helpful microbes.
E.g. Yeast for beer and bread, bacteria used in making vinegar and cheese, yoghurt
bacteria, compost decomposers - helpful
flu virus, bread mould, viruses causing disease - harmful
Bacteria are tiny single-celled organisms which, if lined up in a row, would take 100 to cover
a full stop. They can break down dead animals and plants to return vital nutrients to the soil.
They can be used to make drugs or chemicals in food production, e.g. yoghurt, bread.
5. A doctor or nurse could be invited in to talk to the children about microbes which cause
disease.
6. The children may like to conduct a survey on diseases the class have had then to create a
graph by hand, or on the computer, to display the results.
E.g. mumps, measles, chicken pox, whooping cough, scarlet fever, influenza
7. Discuss ways to prevent disease; the children could find out more about Louis Pasteur and
Jenner for homework. Some may like to make a ‘Combat Disease’ booklet or poster over the
coming weeks.
E.g. Put your hand in front of you mouth when coughing or sneezing.
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