Science / Year 6 / Living Things / 1.3
Estimated time: 40 minutes | Difficulty: Medium | Ref: KS2-LT-1b
Learning objective: Recognise the main types of microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, fungi); understand their role in nature and health.
Use the pathway to build a clear mental model. Open each node and answer the check question.
Microorganisms (microbes) are living things too small to see without a microscope. They include bacteria, viruses, and some fungi. They're found everywhere - in soil, water, air, and even inside your body!
Check: Why do we need a microscope to see microorganisms?
Bacteria - single-celled, can be helpful or harmful. Viruses - even smaller, need a host to reproduce. Fungi - includes moulds and yeasts, break down dead material.
Check: Which type of microorganism needs to be inside another living thing to reproduce?
Most microorganisms are helpful! They decompose dead material, help make food (bread, cheese, yoghurt), and live in our gut to help digestion. Only some cause disease.
Check: Give one example of a helpful microorganism.
We can reduce harmful microbes by: washing hands, cooking food properly, covering sneezes, and getting vaccinations. The NHS helps protect people from infectious diseases.
Check: Why is handwashing important before eating?
Microorganisms (also called microbes) are tiny living things that are too small to see with the naked eye. You need a microscope to see them. Despite being invisible, they are everywhere and play vital roles in our world.
Microorganisms are essential for life on Earth:
Yeast (a fungus) is added to bread dough. It feeds on sugar and produces carbon dioxide gas, which makes bubbles in the dough. This is why bread rises and has holes inside. Without yeast, bread would be flat and dense.
When you put vegetable peelings in a compost bin, bacteria and fungi break them down into compost. This natural process recycles nutrients back into the soil. A compost heap feels warm because decomposition releases heat!
Colds are caused by viruses (not bacteria, which is why antibiotics don't work on them). Cold viruses spread through droplets when someone sneezes or coughs. Washing hands and covering sneezes helps stop them spreading.
Yoghurt is made by adding helpful bacteria to milk. The bacteria turn the milk sugar (lactose) into acid, which thickens the milk and gives yoghurt its tangy taste. These are "good" bacteria that can help your digestive system.
Answer all questions, then check your answers. Your quiz result is saved on this device.
Wrong thinking: "All germs are bad and make you ill." Correct: Most microorganisms are harmless or helpful! We need bacteria in our gut, and we use microbes to make food like bread and cheese.
Wrong thinking: "Bacteria and viruses are the same thing." Correct: Bacteria are living cells that can survive on their own. Viruses are much smaller and can only reproduce inside a host cell. Antibiotics kill bacteria but not viruses.
Wrong thinking: "Antibiotics will cure my cold." Correct: Colds are caused by viruses. Antibiotics only work against bacteria. Taking antibiotics for a cold won't help and can cause problems.
Wrong thinking: "Bacteria are tiny animals." Correct: Bacteria are in their own kingdom - they're not animals or plants. They're single-celled organisms with a very different structure from animal cells.