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Activity
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Yogurt Cultures

For Students 3rd - 5th
Find out in this experiment how good bacteria can turn milk into a treat by investigating the optimal starter cultures for making yogurt from whole milk.
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Activity
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: The End Zone: Measuring Antimicrobial Effectiveness

For Students 9th - 10th
Antimicrobial agents are chemicals that are used against bacteria. There are many such agents available. Because there are many different situations where bacterial control is important, no antimicrobial agent is effective in all...
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Activity
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Minimizing Bacteria in the Thawing and Cooking of Meat

For Students 9th - 10th
Here's a practical project that sheds light on safe practices in the kitchen. Use this information to determine which method of defrosting meat is safest and which method of cooking kills the most bacteria.
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Activity
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: What Duration of Ultraviolet Exposure Kills Bacteria?

For Students 9th - 10th
Ultraviolet light can damage DNA molecules. If a cell's DNA repair mechanisms can't keep up with the damage, mutations are the result. As harmful mutations accumulate, the cell eventually dies. How much ultraviolet light is too much for...
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Activity
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Bacterial Resistant Materials and the Best Disinfectant

For Students 9th - 10th
If you'd rate yourself high on the bacteriophobia scale, just keep on scrolling down to the next project. Bacteria are all around us, and normally our body's defenses keep us blissfully unaware of them. If you don't mind finding out...
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Activity
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Worm Hunt: Isolating Soil Nematodes From Your Backyard

For Students 9th - 10th
Nematodes, also called roundworms, are the most abundant animal on Earth and can be found in your back yard, playgrounds, and many other places. This lab involves isolating nematodes from several soil samples to discover the best...
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Activity
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Can Garlic Prevent Crown Gall?

For Students 9th - 10th
Crown gall is a plant disease caused by the soil bacterium Agrobacterium tumefaciens. This project uses tomato plants to investigate whether garlic extract can prevent crown gall infection. Though this is a lengthy experiment, a...
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Activity
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Waste Not, Want Not: Use the Microbial Fuel Cell to Create Elec

For Students 9th - 10th
Gross. What is that in the toilet? But maybe it's not just gross. Did you know there are bacteria that digest organic waste and create electrons? What if there was a way to collect those electrons to power a circuit? In this science fair...
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Unit Plan
TED Talks

Ted: Ted Ed: How Do Germs Spread? Why Do They Make Us Sick?

For Students 2nd - 7th
Germs are found on almost every surface we come in contact with, which makes it incredibly common for our bodies to be exposed to them. But why are some of these germs relatively harmless, while others can be fatal? The creators of this...
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Primary
University of Missouri

Microbes in Action: Classroom Activities: Something's Glowing in My Petri Dish

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Using microbiology techniques, students will explore the effect of iron on the fluorescence of several species of bacteria. Studying bacteria in an iron scarce environment allows students to see the fluorescence released. Lesson plan...
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Article
American Institute of Biological Sciences

Action Bioscience: Bacteria: More Than Pathogens

For Students 9th - 10th
An explanation of the differences between bacteria and viruses. Further details are given showing that not all bacteria are bad.
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Unit Plan
The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry

Abpi: Infectious Diseases: Pathogens

For Students 9th - 10th
An interactive, self-guided lesson on pathogens and microorganisms. This lesson has many descriptive animations as well as diagrams to help with understanding. There is a self-checking quiz at the end of the lesson.
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Handout
The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry

Apbi: Beating Bacteria

For Students 9th - 10th
A complete learning module on beating bacteria. Students read about how scientists fight bacteria, play a slide presentation about medicine research and development, watch an animation on antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and then answer...
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Handout
The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry

Abpi: Medicines to Treat Disease

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
A series of slide show presentations about the treatment of infectious disease. Each focuses on one aspect of fighting bacteria. Also included are interactive animations illustrating body functions and how medicines work.
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Lesson Plan
BioEd Online

Bio Ed Online: They're Everywhere: Bacteria

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Bacteria are everywhere and can cause many different kinds of diseases. Bacteria are a major source of food contamination. Students will grow bacteria collected from different places and compare the results.
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Lesson Plan
BioEd Online

Bio Ed Online: Safe Food Preparation

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Do you always wash your hands before preapring food? Simple things that can be done during food preparation reduce the risk of food contamination. For this activity students learn how to safely prepare a fun treat in class- fruit ice cream.
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Lesson Plan
BioEd Online

Bio Ed Online: The Science of Microbes: The Variety and Roles of Microbes

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners learn about the four major groups of microbes and their characteristics, and the roles microbes have in the world. The instructional activity and PowerPoint slides can be downloaded. The included instructional video on the four...
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Handout
Encyclopedia of Earth

Encyclopedia of Earth: Evolutionary Biology: Extremophile

For Students 9th - 10th
Article describing some of the extreme environments where extremophile organisms can live, and giving examples from bacteria, archaea, flora, and fauna. (Published: November 26, 2010)
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Handout
Microscopy UK

Microscopy Uk: The Smallest Page on the Web

For Students 9th - 10th
Dive into a single drop of pond water to discover the microscopic world of freshwater organisms. Learn about protists, bacteria, and other tiny inhabitants that can only be seen under a microscope.
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Interactive
Other

Nsf International: Nsf Scrub Club

For Students Pre-K - 1st
Keep yourself clean, kill bacteria, and stay healthy all year long by washing your hands (and under your fingernails) with warm soapy water. Play the "6 Steps Game" to learn how to properly clean your hands, meet the "villains" that...
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Handout
Other

Ncagr: Bad Bug Book

For Students 9th - 10th
A kids' version of the "bad bug" book. Staph is listed with a brief look at what foods are associated with this bacteria, what the symptoms are, how long it lasts and how to prevent it. Great for younger kids and good general info for...
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Website
PBS

Pbs: Plague War: Fa Qs

For Students 9th - 10th
PBS provides an in-depth overview of both biological and chemical warfare in a FAQ format.
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Unit Plan
Annenberg Foundation

Annenberg Learner: Rediscovering Biology: Unit 4: Microbial Diversity

For Students 9th - 10th
A complete learning module on microbial diversity that includes a downloadable textbook chapter, teacher guide, and lesson activities. The chapter can also be viewed online. In addition, there are animations, images, a video, and...
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Article
DOGO Media

Dogo News: 'Smart' Bandage Extracts Bacteria From Wounds

For Students 3rd - 8th
Read about the development of a new bandage that actually helps to remove bateria from wounds.