Learners conduct an experiment to demonstrate that many of the enzyme systems needed to break down society's wastes exist in nature among the decomposers in a compost pile. They culture compost bacteria on starch agar to examine the...

Students demonstrate that many of the enzyme systems needed to break down--and therefore clean up-society's wastes already exist in nature among the decomposers. They select the best starch-munching organisms by altering the environment...

Administrators encourage students to take as much English, Science and Math as they can. They encourage students to take the most advanced classes they can. They help students find opportunities to explore medical careers through...

Students engineer new organisms using biotechnology. In small groups, they write procedures, list benefits and drawbacks, and explain how their new organism might affect the environment. After creating their new organisms, they present...

Students explore the life forms that live in the hot springs of Yellowstone. They examine how microscopic creatures can survive in these extreme conditions. Students perform experiments to observe growth samples and demonstrate how a...

Students read about how scientists are arriving at current theories of human origin and migration through mitochondrial DNA analysis. They then piece together a map showing the data from mitochondrial DNA analysis to plot the migration...

Middle schoolers read about six important discoveries in microbiology and put them on a timeline. They develop an understanding of how these discoveries connect to the invention of new scientific tools and technology. The lesson plan and...

The Microbes in Action program serves to promote an understanding and appreciation of the importance of microorganisms in our world by providing scientific information, hands-on activities, articles and news, curriculum units, and other...

This PBS documentary provides an overview of the microbial world and offers an exciting glimpse into the field of microbiology. Meet scientists from around the world investigating the microbial world in diverse locations, from a...

Student teams practice water quality analysis through turbidity measurement and coliform bacteria counts. They use information about water treatment processes to design prototype small-scale water treatment systems and test the influent...

This 1986 journal article reports that most microbial communities have escaped description. Article covers communities and ecosystems, microbial communities in termite intestines, microbial mats in evaporite flats, and microbial...

This journal article discusses incorporation of the Winogradsky Column into high school science classrooms to demonstrate nutrient cycles and inter-relatedness of organisms in the environment.

Students will learn about plankton in relation to the Chesapeake Bay and how they grow and are sampled.

In this five-part activity, learners will learn whether or not nanobacteria are alive.

Observe organisms in various environments, determine what enables the organisms to live in that environment and discuss the varied biological functions of the organisms.