Battle of the Bacteria Cells Petri Dishes (Article, experiment, report)

Battle of the Bacteria Video / Lesson Plan Explained: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAXqaKTLoRc

Whether you teach upper elementary or middle school, it can be difficult to fit all of the subjects in a given day. With this activity, it makes it simple to teach math, writing, reading, health, and of course science together with one experiment. (I have done this activity as a 5th grade and 7th grade teacher).

In this activity, students go throughout the school and collect samples of places that they think contain the most and least bacteria. They record their findings and write an essay describing the results of their experiment. This STEAM activity will get students thinking (and hopefully washing their hands). Students like questioning where the most dirty spot in the school is and putting this to the test. They enjoy watching the bacteria grow in their cultures and often find the results surprising. This brings this microscopic world to our macroscopic eyes so that students can gain a deeper understanding of bacteria and prokaryotic cells.

Included:

-Non-fiction article

-Comprehension questions and answer key

-Pre-writing, brainstorming sheet

-Lab Sheet to record data

-Hall passes to help manage this activity

-Data collection and graphing sheets

-Outline so students can easily write a 5 paragraph essay on their findings