Starter quiz
- What do we mean when we say we cannot see something with the naked eye?
- we cannot see it using our eyes alone ✓
- it is completely invisible
- it is too big to see all in one go
- we cannot see it without wearing glasses
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- What does the prefix ‘micro’ mean?
- very hot
- very cold
- very small ✓
- very big
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- All living things can ______, which means get bigger.
- 'grow' ✓
- Match the living thing to the correct group.
- poppy⇔flowering plant ✓
- pincushion moss⇔non-flowering plant ✓
- spider⇔invertebrate: arachnid ✓
- fly⇔invertebrate: insect ✓
- gerbil⇔vertebrate: mammal ✓
- Which of these characteristics do all living things have?
- they have camouflage to blend into their surroundings
- they can reproduce more living things of their type ✓
- they need nutrition to survive ✓
- they are able to move ✓
- they are able to communicate with sounds
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- What is the structure of something?
- how large it is
- how the parts of its body are arranged ✓
- how it moves
- how it finds its food
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Exit quiz
- Germs, bugs and microbes are all words for ______.
- 'micro-organisms' ✓
- Which of these living things are micro-organisms?
fruit fly
bacteria ✓
virus ✓
peat moss
- Which piece of equipment would we use for looking at micro-organisms?
telescope
binoculars
microscope ✓
magnifying glass
- Where can micro-organisms be found?
- only in very dirty places
- only in the ground
- only in living things
- almost everywhere ✓
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- Which of these statements about micro-organisms is incorrect?
- Micro-organisms cannot be seen with the naked eye.
- Micro-organisms are living things.
- Not all micro-organisms are harmful to humans.
- Micro-organisms are very tiny animals. ✓
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This is a very tiny living thing called an aceria anthocoptes. It has a body divided into two sections and eight legs. It lives on plants. How can we tell it is an animal, not a micro-organism?- Micro-organisms have a much simpler structure. ✓
- Micro-organisms aren’t living things.
- Micro-organisms cannot live on other living things.
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Worksheet
Presentation
Video
Lesson Details
Key learning points
- Micro-organisms are tiny living things that are too small to be seen with the naked eye.
- Micro-organisms are commonly known as germs, bugs or microbes.
- Micro-organisms can be viewed using a microscope.
- Micro-organisms are found everywhere, in soil, air, water, on your skin and in your digestive system.
Common misconception
Pupils may think that micro-organisms are very tiny animals or that they are not living things. Pupils may think that all micro-organisms are harmful germs.
Explain that micro-organisms are living things as they carry out the same processes as other living things, but they aren't animals because they have a simpler structure than animals. Explain that some helpful micro-organisms live inside our bodies.
Keywords
Living thing - A living thing is something that is alive. It can grow, reproduce, move, feed and excrete waste material.
Organism - An organism is a living thing.
Micro-organism - A micro-organism is a very tiny living thing.
Microbe - Microbe is another name for a micro-organism.
Microscope - A microscope is a piece of equipment that magnifies very tiny objects.