Microbes on the Move

The whole group will study and experiment with decomposers in the environment such as fungi; identify how microorganisms are used as food or in production of food (yeast in bread-making, fungi flavor cheese, algae used in ice cream, bacteria used to make cheese and yogurt); identify helpful uses of microorganisms (clean up oil spills, purify water, digest food, antibiotics, penicillin, etc.); relate diseases (athlete's foot-fungi, strept bacteria, giardia protozoa); harful effects on food (rotting, destriction, sour milk).

Collaboratively, students will choose small groups and decide their microoganism choice from decomposers, food producers, scientific and medicinal, disease-causing, and harmful food microbes.

The storyboard will be designed with the following features: detailed description of microorganism, identify environment, purpose (harmful or useful), and how it interacts with its host, and finally the outcome of its use.

Upon approval of storyboard, students will choose a medium for their production: legos, clay, paper, cardboard, etc. Then they will make the objects and practice with their written script before actual stop animation production with the software and technology tools.

The final products will be played on the closed circuit television system for the sixth grade students at the school. The state tests include questions on this portion of the state core, therefore students will have first-hand experienced with the intended learning outcomes and state core.