Download Microorganisms

Learning Objectives:
• That microorganisms have an important
role in decay
• That microorganisms have potential
benefits to the environment.
• Investigate how microorganisms can
break down waste, clean up pollution and
help produce bio-fuels
‘ What are microbes useful for?’
As a class, write down as many
ideas as possible on this slide .
No judgement are to be made
About the answers given until all
ideas from the class are in
and discussions take place
8
>>
0
>>
1
>>
2
>>
3
>>
4
>>
7
>>
0
>>
1
>>
2
>>
3
>>
4
>>
6
>>
0
>>
1
>>
2
>>
3
>>
4
>>
5
>>
0
>>
1
>>
2
>>
3
>>
4
>>
4
>>
0
>>
1
>>
2
>>
3
>>
4
>>
3
>>
0
>>
1
>>
2
>>
3
>>
4
>>
>>
0
>>
1
>>
2
>>
3
>>
4
>>
>>
0
>>
1
>>
2
>>
3
>>
4
>>
Banana
peelings
What goes into your compost?
Garden
waste
Egg shells
Potato
peelings
Old
vegetables
How microorganisms are involved in decay
Tea bags
 This type of waste is biodegradable which means it can be
broken down into simpler substances by decomposing
microbes and other life forms such as worms.
 Microbes carry out respiration and so get their energy
from this waste. They need this energy to grow, the byproduct is compost.
 Compost is great for the garden as it provides the soil
with essential nutrients and improves the structure of the
soil.
 Composting reduces the amount of waste
put into landfill sites.
 Kitchen and garden waste buried in landfill
sites cannot rot properly due to the lack of
Oxygen.
 The site will start to smell and due to the
anaerobic conditions that develop, a mixture
of microbes break down the organic matter
giving off methane and carbon dioxide.
Methane is a greenhouse gas that contributes
to global warming
Firstly, sewage is
sieved to get rid of
solid items like
toothbrushes!
All that goes down
your toilet normally
ends up at a
sewage works
It then sinks to
the bottom and
forms a ‘soup’ at
the top
It is then
sent to
aeration
tanks
Air is bubbled in
and the good
bacteria
multiply
digesting the
harmful
bacteria
The sludge left at
the bottom is
heated up…
How microorganisms contribute to the breakdown of waste
Hmmm… why is it that plastic bags take
so long to break down? If it is bacteria
that break down the bag, why is it we
can’t isolate the bacteria and encourage
them to grow in larger quantities?
That’s a good point!
Discuss with your
partner what you think
would be needed for the
bacteria to grow in large
numbers.
It’s true! A 16 year old
student came up with the
idea behind us plastic
degrading microbes! He
put together some
household items to make a
medium for the bacteria
to grow in. After tests to
isolate the bacteria, he
encouraged us to multiply
and provided us with
strips of plastic bags to
break down! It only took
us 6 weeks!
Can you come up with any ideas as to what might be
important uses for microbes for the future?
I have discovered microbes
that…
Produce a leaflet or poster explaining the advantages and
disadvantages of the use of microorganisms for bio-fuels.
Remember to use more than two sources of information to
improve the reliability of your work
Discuss with your partner:
• That microorganisms have an important role in decay…
•
That microorganisms have potential benefits to the
environment…
•
That microorganisms can break down waste, clean up
pollution and can help produce biofuels…
Learning outcomes
Alt +onClick
on the
two red boxes
to write
Alt + Click
on this callout to explain
Alt + Click
this callout
to explain
two
you are
howwell
you learned it!
howthings
you learned
it! have understood
about this task/topic!
Alt + Click on this Alt
callout
Alt +
+on
Click
onon
thisthis
callout
Altboxes
+to
Click
on this why
callout
+ Click
the
three
green
to
Alt
Click
callout
explain
to explain where you
to explain where you
to explain where you
write
three
things
you
already
knew
you
are
still
unsure
about
this
task/topic,
Alt
+
Click
on
the
blue
box
to
write
one
learned this!
learned this!
learned
this!
thisabout
task/topic!
orabout
to explain
why you
thing you are still
not
sure
this are interested in
Alt + click to input text
the question
you have
task/topic, or a question
you would
likewritten! Is there
in the class that has this point in
toanyone
answer!
Shift + Click to rotate
clockwise
the middle two boxes?
Ctrl + Alt + click to
Shrink
Ctrl + click to enlarge
Hide instructions
Show
instructions