Microorganisms the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Zion National Park Microorganisms The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly NPS/JONATHAN FORTNER Contents Introduction 2 Background 2 Activities The Good Microorganisms in My Lunch 3 The Bad Microorganisms and Disease 4 The Ugly Bighorn Sheep Mystery 6 Glossary 7 References 7 Introduction This guide contains background information about how microorganisms can be both good and bad, and directions for three activities that will help students better understand how microorganisms can be helpful and harmful. The activities are most benefcial to students when completed in order. This guide is specifcally designed for sixth grade classrooms, but the activities can be modifed for students at other levels. A separate activity guide, titled “What is a Microorganism?” provides a general introduction of microorganisms and their role in Zion National Park. Theme to live. Microorganisms exist throughout the Microorganisms perform a variety of world, from Antarctica to your kitchen, from functions on Earth, both positive and negative. inside animals (like humans), to the expanse of wilderness in Zion National Park. Most are Focus good, others are bad, and a few are just plain This activity guide explores the good that ugly. microorganisms do in food production and the harm they can do in causing disease. A microorganism is defned as a living thing that is so small it must be viewed with a Activities microscope. Some microorganisms like viruses are so small they can only be seen The Good Microorganisms in with special electron microscopes. Note: the My Lunch Zion National Park curriculum guide “What Students will discover some of the is a Microorganism?” is available online for microorganisms that they eat in foods every teachers. It provides background information day by comparing their lunches to a list of and three activities for introducing the idea of microorganisms present in diferent foods. what microorganisms are. Activity Materials Many people are most familiar with the Corresponding materials The Bad Microorganisms and Disease which may include images, Each of the nine diseases listed in this activity microorganisms that cause diseases, such worksheets, and answer keys will be matched with their preventions and as certain types of bacteria and viruses. are provided for each activity. “Germs” is a general term for any type of Materials can be downloaded treatments. Students will receive a short microorganism (bacteria, protozoa, fungus, from the lesson plan webpage, explanation of a disease, prevention, or found here. treatment and will fnd their two matching or virus) that can harm people or other components of their group. animals. However, there are many good microorganisms such as those that help Core Connections us digest food, and those that are in food The Ugly Bighorn Sheep Mystery themselves. Utah Core Curriculum Students will read and analyze information Sixth Grade Science about an outbreak of disease in a population Microorganisms of all kinds can be found Standard 5: Students of bighorn sheep at Zion National Park and in Zion National Park and southern Utah. will understand that answer questions to identify the disease and Some microorganisms can actually be seen microorganisms range from its consequences. simple to complex, are found at work. Biological soil crust is built up into almost everywhere, and are fragile spires from fungi, algae, and bacteria. both helpful and harmful. Background Algae can also be seen tinting water green, such as in the Emerald Pools. In other cases, Objective 3: Identify positive microorganisms cannot be seen, such as and negative effects of Just as there are millions of diferent microorganisms and how species of plants and animals in the world, Giardia which lives in the Virgin River. science has developed positive there are millions of diferent species of uses for some microorganisms and overcome the negative microorganisms. Microorganisms can survive effects of others. in environments where humans are unable Zion National Park, April 2014 Microorganisms 2 Have students plan to pack a lunch, or The Good Microorganisms arrange for pickup from the cafeteria, and in My Lunch bring their lunch to class. You can pretend you are taking a virtual feld trip to Zion Duration National Park and tell students to bring 60 Minutes, over two days blankets or other props for the picnic. Location 2. On the second day, before the students pull Inside or outside out their lunches, decorate the classroom as if having a picnic (or go outside during nice DARKONE Key Vocabulary weather). Lay out blankets or tablecloths, microorganism, bacteria, fungi, algae put up a picture of Zion on the screen, and let students bring out things they like to Objectives have on picnics. Students will be able to list at least two foods 3. Have students brainstorm ways in that require microorganisms and become which microorganisms are important aware of how many types of foods rely on (decomposers, producers, part of food microorganisms. chain, cause disease, etc.). Mention that while sometimes microorganisms are Method feared, most of them are helpful—and NPS/BRYANNA PLOG Students will discover some of the most of us wouldn’t want to live in a world microorganisms that they eat in foods every without microorganisms. Explain how day by comparing their own lunch to a list of microorganisms are even in the food we microorganisms present in diferent foods. eat. Explain that they will explore their lunch looking for items that required a Background microorganism to make it. Microorganisms are commonly found in foods we eat. Often, microorganisms help create the 4. Pass out a Microorganisms in My Lunch foods themselves, such as the many diferent reference sheet and worksheet to each types of bacteria that turn milk into cheese or student. Have them go through the list and NPS/BRYANNA PLOG yogurt. Commonly-known microorganisms write down which foods in their own lunch Edible mushrooms are usually that help create food include the fungi used the product of a larger are made using microorganisms. Students underground fungus. in breads, cheeses, and beer. Lesser known may eat their lunch as they work or the microorganisms include the algae used as a Bacteria and fungi are required teacher can have the entire class eat at the to create most cheeses. thickener in dairy products, the fungi used same time after the activity. to preserve meats, and some bacteria used to Sandwich bread utilizes yeast, a type of fungi, to rise. Jellies develop favor. 5. Have students share with a partner and sometimes require the use of then with the class. Ask students which algae as a thickener. There are no protozoa or viruses used in foods and microorganisms surprised them food production, though protozoa, like most the most. microorganisms, can positively afect our food Extension supply. Along with types of bacteria, protozoa Have students try to plan a meal that doesn’t are important decomposers, turning organic include foods that need microorganisms. material into rich soil for plants to use. When completed (it will probably involve Materials either pasta or rice and beans), remind students that even if a microorganism is • Microorganisms in My Lunch Images not directly involved in food production, (optional) microorganisms such as bacteria and protozoa • Microorganisms in My Lunch worksheet play an important role in the food chain, and reference list acting as decomposers and adding nutrients to • Lunch food and picnic supplies (to be the soil—nutrients that plants need to grow. brought in by students) Suggested Procedure 1. On the frst day, tell students you are going to have a picnic lunch in class the next day. Zion National Park, April 2014 Microorganisms 3 food that has not been handled properly, or The Bad Microorganisms breathing in the microorganism (i.e. standing and Disease next to someone while they cough). We commonly refer to these disease-causing Duration microorganisms as germs. 45 Minutes Generally, microorganisms are broken into Location fve categories (simpler defnitions are located Inside in the glossary for student use): Key Vocabulary Bacteria: Bacteria come in a variety of shapes microorganism, single-celled, protozoa, virus, (spheres, rods, or spirals) and are a diverse bacteria, fungi, germ, antibiotic, vaccine group of organisms. Many cause disease, such as some strains of E. coli, while others actually Objectives help support life, such as the bacteria inside Students will learn that a diversity of our intestines which break down our food. microorganisms can cause disease. As a result, Bacteria is plural, bacterium is singular. prevention and treatment for these diseases will also vary. Algae: While not all algae are green, all are capable of photosynthesizing and considered Method producers. Algae can be single-celled or Each of the nine diseases listed in this activity multicelled and only a very small number can will be matched with their prevention and cause disease. Algae mostly grow in water and treatment. Students will receive a short include seaweed and “pond scum.” Algae is explanation of the disease, or prevention, plural, alga is singular. or treatment. Then they will fnd their two matching components and form a group. Fungi: All fungi are decomposers, breaking down dead matter for nutrients, and they Background cannot produce their own food. Common Many diferent types of microorganisms cause diseases caused by fungi include athlete’s foot a variety of diseases. The most common way in humans and white nose syndrome in bats, of getting a bad microorganism in your body but the type of fungi known as penicillium is is by drinking contaminated water, eating one of the main antibiotics used to fght other NPS/BRYANNA PLOG Students look for microorganisms and insects in the Virgin River. Zion National Park, April 2014 Microorganisms 4 infections. Fungi is plural, fungus is singular.

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