Microbes: The World Within: High School Exploration

by North Carolina State University 4-H

Overview

The unseen world of bacteria, the microscopic kingdom of life, has an enormous impact on our everyday lives. This book will provide a diverse look of lessons and activities that seek to provide participants with an interactive look at the microbial world from a variety of approaches.

Participants are introduced to the amazing breadth of this group as they become familiar with the distinguishing characteristics of some representative bacteria that are commonly found in association with humans.

In this book, you'll....
* Understand the important concept of the microbiome - the populations of bacteria that inhabit all of our bodies and that contribute to health as well as disease.
* Investigate environmental factors that can affect the growth of bacterial populations.
* Practice basic lab techniques that are mainstays for anyone seeking to work in a research or lab environment.
* Investigate the mechanisms by which the human body keeps any harmful invaders at bay.
* Understand the importance of public health organizations and the surveillance of infectious disease.
* Model several tools currently available to scientists for identifying bacteria at the molecular level.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781732982321
Publisher:	North Carolina 4-H
Publication date:	01/16/2019
Series:	NC 4-H Microbiology Curricula , #3
Pages:	152
Product dimensions:	8.50(w) x 11.00(h) x 0.41(d)
Age Range:	14 - 17 Years

About the Author

North Carolina 4-H directs research and evidence-based projects that incorporate life skill development by using the resources of extension, land grant universities, other universities, and youth-serving agencies. NC 4-H is a community-based and locally supported organization, relying on its trained professional staff and volunteers.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Scope and Sequence

Experiential Learning Model

Lesson 1: Do These Germs Make Me Fat?

• Recognize the presence of microscopic life all around us.
• Distinguish the difference between microbial life and multicellular organisms.
• Construct an understanding of the diversity of microbial organisms.

Lesson 1 Print Materials

Lesson 2A: Dare to Infect ME!

• Name the system that will fight against bacteria to keep our body healthy.
• List different levels of defense mechanisms within our body to keep us healthy.

Lesson 2B: Code Red!

• Explore the third line of defense in the immune system.
• Analyze the interaction between antigen and antibody.
• Describe the process by which B-cells and T-cells help our bodies against pathogens.

Lesson 2A Print Materials

Lesson 2B Print Materials

Lesson 3: Outbreak

• Find, summarize, and explain information about an infectious disease.
• Construct a museum display by organizing the information about an infectious disease.
• Compare the outbreak, period of outbreak, and control of outbreak for these diseases.

Lesson 3 Print Materials

Lesson 4: Knock, Knock – Who’s There?

• Recognize that DNA sequences allow identification and organization of groups of organisms.
• Demonstrate the presence of DNA in cells through DNA extraction.
• Model separation of DNA fragments by size and charge.
• Model DNA sequencing strategies.

Lesson 4 Print Materials

Lesson 5: 1, 2, 4, Grow

• Understand how bacterial populations grow.
• Construct and interpret population data on a graph.
• Predict how a population will react to a given stress.

Lesson 5 Print Materials

Lesson 6: Double, Double, Toil and Trouble

• Understand the uses and process of performing a serial dilution.
• Calculate cell viability of a given sample.

Lesson 6 Print Materials

Appendix A: Grab and Go Lessons

Grab and Go 1: Build Your Own Electrophoresis Chamber

• Construct and run a gel electrophoresis to separate a mixture of colors.
• Recognize that this model represents how gel electrophoresis can separate different sizes of DNA fragments.

Grab and Go 1 Print Materials

Grab and Go 2: Plate ‘em Up!

• View how bacterial colonies form.

Grab and Go 3: Stay Away From Our Food, You Germs!

• Describe the importance of consuming safe food.
• Explain general guidelines that should be followed in the safe handling of all foods.
• Create and present a poster as a public service advertisement for food safety which will feature a specific method for preventing foodborne illness.

Grab and Go 3 Print Materials

Appendix B: Material List

Appendix C: Teaching Tips and Techniques

Appendix D: Glossary

References