Microbe Marvels: Decoding the hidden heroes of human health was a one-day i-STEAM workshop for teachers hosted by the Center for Science and the Schools, Dr. Patterson’s lab, and graduate students from the Integrative Analysis for Metabolic Phenotypes NIH T32 Training grant at Penn State. The workshop hosted for secondary science teachers had two goals:
Overview: Microbes are everywhere. In this lesson, students will consider microbes in the environment by building a Winogradsky Column and observing the microbial communities and their interactions within a sediment environment. After building the Winogradsky Column, students will observe it over time in order to think about what these changes indicated about microbial activity and interactions. In addition, students will consider the types of microorganisms founds and the roles they play in the ecosystem. Finally, students consider variables that can be manipulated to study specific microbial processes or interactions.
3.2.9-12.M Evaluate the claims, evidence, and reasoning that the complex interactions in ecosystems maintain relatively consistent numbers and types of organisms in stable conditions, but changing conditions may result in a new ecosystem.
3.2.9-12.X Evaluate the evidence supporting claims that changes in environmental conditions may result in 1) increases in the number of individuals of some species, 2) the emergence of new species over time, and 3) the extinction of other species.
Overview: Microbes are everywhere and in many ways are just like us! In this activity, students will explore one of two research questions: 1) Does the composition of bacterial populations differ among locations on the human body; or 2) Does the composition of bacterial populations differ among environmental sites? Student will generate a hypothesis and test the hypothesis by sampling various locations of their choice. Students will then observe the microbial growth and consider how the sites are similar and different. In addition, students will consider why the populations may be similar or different in the various locations.
3.2.9-12.M Evaluate the claims, evidence, and reasoning that the complex interactions in ecosystems maintain relatively consistent numbers and types of organisms in stable conditions, but changing conditions may result in a new ecosystem.
3.2.9-12.X Evaluate the evidence supporting claims that changes in environmental conditions may result in 1) increases in the number of individuals of some species, 2) the emergence of new species over time, and 3) the extinction of other species.