Unit 2- Microbiology
Week 1- Introduction to the Microscope
Lesson A- History of the Microscope
Major Questions to Answer:
1. Who invented the microscope?
2. What did the first microscopes look like?
3. What sorts of things did early microbiologists look at with their scopes?
Books to Read
The World of the Microscope (Usborne Science & Experiments)
Usborne Internet-Linked Complete Book of the Microscope
Websites to Explore
Usborne Quicklinks for pgs. 80-84 Complete Book of the Microscope
Videos to Watch- None
Experiment/Activity- Adapted from “Waterscope” (Usborne Internet Linked Complete Book of the Microscope pg. 81)
-Gather supplies: a thin piece of cardboard, some clay, tape, a small piece of clear plastic film, a pin, a pencil and a bit of water.
-Put the cardboard on the clay. Make a hole using the pin in the end of the cardboard. Then widen it slightly with a pencil
-Remove the clay and place the plastic film over the hole. Tape it down.
-Dip a pencil in a glass of water and place one drop of water over the hole on top of the plastic film.
-Hold the water scope over the page of a book or newspaper and look through it. The text should be magnified.
Lesson B- Introduction to Microbiology
Major Questions to Answer:
1. What is microbiology?
2. Why do scientists study microbiology?
Books to Read
The World of the Microscope (Usborne Science & Experiments)
Usborne Internet-Linked Complete Book of the Microscope
Websites to Explore
Cells Alive! Project- www.cellsalive.com
Dennis Kunkel’s Microscopy Images- http://education.denniskunkel.com/
Videos to Watch-
Simple Organisms in Action: Bacteria (Schlessinger Science Library)
Simple Organisms in Action: Viruses (Schlessinger Science Library)
Experiment/Activity- None
Week 2- How to Use a Microscope
Lesson A- Parts of the Microscope
Major Questions to Answer:
1. What are the main parts of the microscope?
2. What function does each of the many parts perform?
Books to Read
The World of the Microscope (Usborne Science & Experiments)
Usborne Internet-Linked Complete Book of the Microscope
Websites to Explore
Dennis Kunkel’s Microscopy Images- http://education.denniskunkel.com/
Videos to Watch- None
Experiment/Activity- Explore Your Microscope
Use the two books listed above to explore your microscope. Locate all major parts and determine the function of each.
Lesson B- How to Use a Microscope
Major Questions to Answer:
1. How do you use a microscope?
2. What can you study with a microscope?
Books to Read
The World of the Microscope (Usborne Science & Experiments)
Usborne Internet-Linked Complete Book of the Microscope
Websites to Explore
Dennis Kunkel’s Microscopy Images- http://education.denniskunkel.com/
Videos to Watch- None
Experiment/Activity- Explore Your Microscope Part Two
Use your microscope to examine a wide variety of items. Use prepared slides or prepare some of your own. Or both. Record you observations with words and drawings.
Week 3- Bacilli
Lesson A- Common Bacilli: Where to Find Them & What They Can Do
Major Questions to Answer:
1. What do bacilli look like?
2. Where can you find them?
3. What can they do?
Books to Read
Bill Nye the Science Guy’s Great Big Book of Tiny Germs
Websites to Explore
PBS- Intimate Strangers- http://www.pbs.org/opb/intimatestrangers/
Dennis Kunkel’s Microscopy Images- http://education.denniskunkel.com/
Videos to Watch
Simple Organisms in Action: Bacteria (Schlessinger Science Library)
Simple Organisms in Action: Viruses (Schlessinger Science Library)
Experiment/Activity- Adapted from “Prepare Gelatin Dishes” (Usborne Internet Linked Complete Book of the Microscope pg. 32)
-Gather supplies: 12 plastic Petri dishes, a vegetable bouillon cube, ½ tsp. sugar, a small package of gelatin and 1 cup water
-Wash your hands before beginning to prevent as much cross over transmition as possible
-Boil water in a pan. Stir in the sugar, bouillon cube, and all of the gelatin. Simmer for 30 minutes.
-Pour the liquid into a pitcher. Then pour a little gelatin into each dish. Put the lids on and let the gelatin set.
-Keep the dishes upside down until you need them. This stops water from forming on the gelatin’s surface.
Lesson B- Observing Lactobacilli & Antibiotics at Work
Major Questions to Answer:
1. Are all bacteria harmful to humans?
2. What do helpful bacteria look like?
3. What does an antibiotic do?
Books to Read- None
Websites to Explore
Dennis Kunkel’s Microscopy Images- http://education.denniskunkel.com/
Videos to Watch- None
Experiment/Activity- Growing Lactobacilli Cultures
-Gather supplies- 2 prepared gelatin Petri dishes, a bottle of powdered probiotic from the natural foods section of the grocery store, a sample of an antibiotic (powder, liquid or ointment)
-Open the 2 dishes and sprinkle a pinch of probiotic in each dish. Close up the dishes and leave them at room temperature for a few days
-Look at the dishes with the naked eye and under your microscope. Record your observations.
-Carefully open one of the two dishes and add the antibiotic to the dish. Close it back up again and let it sit at room temperature for a day or so.
-Now observe the two dishes again. Record your observations.
Week 4- Cocci
Lesson A- Common Cocci: Where to Find Them & What They Can Do
Major Questions to Answer:
1. What do cocci look like?
2. Where can they be found?
3. What can they do?
Books to Read
The World of the Microscope (Usborne Science & Experiments)
Usborne Internet-Linked Complete Book of the Microscope
Websites to Explore
Dennis Kunkel’s Microscopy Images- http://education.denniskunkel.com/
The Microbe Zoo- http://commtechlab.msu.edu/sites/dlc-me/zoo/index.html
Videos to Watch- None
Experiment/Activity- None
Lesson B- Monera Scavenger Hunt Part One
Major Questions to Answer:
1. Where are bacteria growing in and around our home?
2. What kinds of bacteria are growing in and around our home?
Books to Read
Microscopic Life by Richard Walker JV579WAL
Websites to Explore
Dennis Kunkel’s Microscopy Images- http://education.denniskunkel.com/
Videos to Watch- None
Experiment/Activity- Monera Scavenger Hunt Part One
-Gather supplies- 10 remaining Petri dishes, 10 cotton swabs, tape, marker
-Choose 10 locations in and around your home. These can be anywhere. (Some interesting suggestions are: your toilet, inside your refrigerator, your backyard/patio, your television, inside your CD player, etc.)
-Label the bottom of each dish using tape and a marker with each of the different locations.
-Use a cotton swab to swab the designated location. Then gently drag the swab across the gelatin surface of the dish. Close the dish and tape it shut. Repeat for the remaining nine dishes.
-Place in a safe location and let sit until next week.
Week 5- Spirilla
Lesson A- Common Spirilla: Where to Find Them & What They Can Do
Major Questions to Answer:
1. What do spirilla look like?
2. Where can they be found?
3. What can they do?
Books to Read-
The Good, The Bad, and The Slimy: The Secret Life of Microbes by Sara Latta JV579LAT
Websites to Explore
Dennis Kunkel’s Microscopy Images- http://education.denniskunkel.com/
The Microbe Zoo- http://commtechlab.msu.edu/sites/dlc-me/zoo/index.html
Videos to Watch- None
Experiment/Activity- None
Lesson B- Monera Scavenger Hunt Part Two
Major Questions to Answer:
1. Did I find bacteria growing in our home?
2. What types of bacteria did I find?
Books to Read- None
Websites to Explore
Dennis Kunkel’s Microscopy Images- http://education.denniskunkel.com/
Videos to Watch- None
Experiment/Activity- Monera Scavenger Hunt Part Two
DO NOT OPEN THE PETRI DISHES.
-Observe the perti dishes made last week with the lids on. Which sample grew the most? The least?
-Observe the dishes under your microscope if possible and try to identify the types of bacteria you see.
-Draw and write about your observations
-When you are finished throw all of the Petri dishes out still closed