<p>Whilst antibiotics and other medicines can help us treat infections, vaccines are used to help prevent the infection from causing us harm.</p> <p>In this lesson, students learn the story of Edward Jenner and his amazing discovery of the first vaccine to explain how exposure to relatively harmless microbes can protect us from deadly ones. The ‘fill in the blanks’ and ‘answer questions’ activities help reinforce the main points of the story.</p> <p>The extension activity encourages students to recreate the story of Edward Jenner and his vaccine discovery through a fun play.</p>

The Useful Microbes section of e-Bug, highlights to students that not all microbes are harmful by examining the various ways and means we use certain microbes for our benefit. In the main activity, Yeast Races, students observe first hand how microbes can be put to good use in the food industry by carrying out a fun experiment to observe how yeast makes dough rise through the process of fermentation. To reduce the amount of photocopying required, the Student Handouts for this section are also available in an MS PowerPoint presentation for whiteboard use.

<p>The Useful Microbes section of e-Bug, highlights to students that not all microbes are harmful, by examining the various ways and means we use certain microbes for our benefit.</p> <p>Through a yogurt making activity students observe first hand how microbes can be put to good use in the food industry.</p> <p>The extension activity, encourages students to question their experiments by examining a yogurt culture under a microscope and observe the presence of useful bacteria for themselves.</p>

In this section students are introduced to the wonderful world of microbes. First students explore the different types and shapes of microbes and later closely examine useful and harmful microbes. This introductory activity encourages students to use their observational skills and imagination to create microbes using play dough. Through this interactive activity, students learn about bacteria, viruses and fungi, their shapes and that they can be found everywhere. The extension activity Microbe Mania reinforces the classroom lesson.

Food poisoning through undercooked and inappropriate storage of food affects thousands of people each year. This Food Hygiene lesson demonstrates to students how easily potentially harmful microbes on raw and undercooked food can transfer to humans. Students act as chefs for the class and prepare a pretend chicken sandwich. They will literally see how far they have spread microbial contamination! The Fridge Game can be used as a classroom game/demonstration to show students where food should be stored in the fridge to prevent cross contamination.

<p>This section covers the topic of disease prevention through vaccinations.</p> <p>In this activity students take part in a simulation to see how vaccines are used to prevent the spread of infections.</p> <p>In an alternative activity for more able students, students examine World Health Organisation (WHO) data on the measles vaccination and attempt to explain why measles kills more children in Africa than in Europe despite the vaccine being available.</p> <p>The extension activity asks students to assess which vaccines are necessary to visit certain countries of the world, and why.</p>

<p>Sexually transmitted infections are on the increase, particularly amongst the young dult population. This section aims to teach students how sexual activity can lead to the spread of microbes and disease.</p> <p>Students observe how easyily potentially harmful microbes can transfer to the people you care about without either of you knowing. Students carry out a chemical experiment to see how many people can be infected unknowingly by unprotected sexual intercourse and how we can prevent this from happening.</p> <p>A comic strip forms the basis of this extension activity.</p>

<p>Illnesses due to antibiotic resistant microbes are a worrying problem in our hospitals and communities. This section explores the use of antibiotics and medicine in treating various illnesses and infectious disease.</p> <p>In this practical activity acids and bases in agar plates are used to represent bacteria and antibiotics. As groups, students test a range of antibiotics (alkaline solutions) on bacteria (acid and indicator in agar) cultured from patient samples and determine which illness the patients have from a list provided.</p>

<p>Microbial infections are found across the world. Harmful Microbes, introduces students to the variety of infectious diseases across the globe caused by harmful microbes.</p> <p>Students are required to act as scientists and group a range of diseases under different headings in order to address a range of problems which may arise. By carrying out this activity students learn that it is not always easy to identify and treat a disease.</p> <p>A classroom debate is the focus of this extension activity. Students research an ongoing scientific conundrum - are we too clean or not clean enough?</p>

<p>Illnesses due to antibiotic resistant microbes are a worrying problem in our hospitals and communities. This section explores the use of antibiotics and medicine in treating various illnesses and infectious disease.</p> <p>In this practical activity acids and bases in agar plates are used to represent bacteria and antibiotics. As groups, students test a range of antibiotics (alkaline solutions) on bacteria (acid and indicator in agar) cultured from patient samples and determine which illness the patients have from a list provided.</p>

<p>Illnesses due to antibiotic resistant microbes are a worrying problem in our hospitals and communities. This section explores the use of antibiotics and medicine in treating various illnesses and infectious disease.</p> <p>In this practical activity acids and bases in agar plates are used to represent bacteria and antibiotics. As groups, students test a range of antibiotics (alkaline solutions) on bacteria (acid and indicator in agar) cultured from patient samples and determine which illness the patients have from a list provided.</p>

Hand hygiene has been shown to reduce the incidence of absenteeism in schools as good hand hygiene reduces the spread of microbes and infection. In the hand hygiene lessons, students carry out an experiment to observe how easily and far microbes can spread simply by shaking hands. Students will also find out for themselves by performing an experiment or fair test which method is best for hand washing.

Food poisoning through undercooked and inappropriate storage of food affects thousands of people each year. This Food Hygiene lesson demonstrates to students how easily potentially harmful microbes on raw and undercooked food can transfer to humans. Students act as chefs for the class and prepare a pretend chicken sandwich. They will literally see how far they have spread microbial contamination!The Fridge Game can be used as a classroom game/demonstration to show students where food should be stored in the fridge to prevent cross contamination.

<p>In this section students are introduced to the world of microbes. First students explore the different types and shapes of microbes and later closely examine good and bad microbes. A Microsoft Powerpoint presentation and the ‘How Big is a Microbe’ animation may assist in the teaching of this difficult topic. In this introductory activity, students become familiar with the various types and shapes of microbes through an interactive learning card game.<br /> The accompanying extension activity reinforces student knowledge of microbial structure.</p>

The Useful Microbes section of e-Bug, highlights to students that not all microbes are harmful by examining the various ways and means we use certain microbes for our benefit. In the main activity, Yeast Races, students observe first hand how microbes can be put to good use in the food industry by carrying out a fun experiment to observe how yeast makes dough rise through the process of fermentation. To reduce the amount of photocopying required, the Student Handouts for this section are also available in an MS PowerPoint presentation for whiteboard use.

<p>Good microbes can be used to make food, such as bread and yoghurt. However bad microbes are also found on some food and so it is important to keep food in the fridge and to cook meat well before we eat it.</p>

<p>Have you ever wondered that if there are harmful microbes everywhere then why aren’t we ill more often? The answer is that our body is very clever and has many natural defences against microbial attack.</p> <p>This section does not contain a lesson plan but will provide you, as the teacher, with background information on immunity.</p> <p>There is also a detailed presentation and animations illustrating how the body fights infection on a daily basis which can be used to introduce the final two sections of the resource to your class.</p>

<p>Whilst antibiotics and other medicines can help us treat infections, vaccines are used to help prevent the infection from causing us harm.</p> <p>In this lesson, students learn the story of Edward Jenner and his amazing discovery of the first vaccine to explain how exposure to relatively harmless microbes can protect us from deadly ones. The ‘fill in the blanks&amp;’ and &amp;’;answer questions’ activities help reinforce the main points of the story.</p> <p>The extension activity encourages students to recreate the story of Edward Jenner and his vaccine discovery through a fun play.</p>

<p>In this section students are introduced to the world of microbes. First students explore the different types and shapes of microbes and later closely examine good and bad microbes. A Microsoft Powerpoint presentation and the ‘How Big is a Microbe’ animation may assist in the teaching of this difficult topic.</p> <p>In this introductory activity, students become familiar with the various types and shapes of microbes through an interactive learning card game.</p> <p>The accompanying extension activity reinforces student knowledge of microbial structure through the preparation of research posters.</p>

The Useful Microbes section of e-Bug, highlights to students that not all microbes are harmful by examining the various ways and means we use certain microbes for our benefit. In the main activity, Yeast Races, students observe first hand how microbes can be put to good use in the food industry by carrying out a fun experiment to observe how yeast makes dough rise through the process of fermentation. To reduce the amount of photocopying required, the Student Handouts for this section are also available in an MS PowerPoint presentation for whiteboard use.

Have you ever wondered that if there are harmful microbes everywhere then why aren't we ill more often? The answer is that our body is very clever and has many natural defences against microbial attack. This section does not contain a lesson plan but will provide you, as the teacher, with background information on immunity. There is also a detailed presentation and animations illustrating how the body fights infection on a daily basis which can be used to introduce the final two sections of the resource to your class.