Microorganisms that help us (non-statutory)
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain how micro-organisms can be used to improve our health.
Key learning points
- Antibiotics are medicines that fight infections caused by micro-organisms called bacteria.
- Penicillin belongs to a group of medical drugs called antibiotics.
- Penicillin is made from a type of mould.
- In 1928, Scottish doctor, Alexander Fleming, discovered the effects of penicillin.
- The discovery of penicillin was one of the greatest scientific achievements of the 1900s.
Keywords
Antibiotics - Antibiotics are a type of medicine that can kill bacteria.
Bacteria - Bacteria are a type of micro-organism that can be found in all natural environments.
Alexander Fleming - Dr Alexander Fleming was a Scottish scientist who discovered the first antibiotic, penicillin.
Penicillin - Penicillin is a type of antibiotic made from a fungus.
Mould - Mould is a type of fungi which grows and forms a fuzzy coating on organic matter.
Common misconception
Pupils may think that all moulds and fungi are harmful and no useful products can be extracted from them.
Explain that, while many moulds and fungi can be harmful to humans and other animals, many have uses in medicine such as penicillin, once they have been properly processed by scientists.
Teacher tip
In Learning Cycle 3, children will be imagining they are Alexander Fleming and thinking about what he would say in an interview. Children could use apps that can make photographs appear to talk to make themselves look like Alexander Fleming and record themselves reading out their work.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which of these living things are types of micro-organism?
Q2.Micro-organisms living in soil break down organic matter such as dead plants and animals. What are these types of micro-organisms called?
Q3.Where can bacteria be found?
Q4.Which statement about micro-organisms is correct?
Q5.A is a piece of equipment that we can use to look at micro-organisms because they are too small to see with the naked eye.
Q6.Mould is part of a group of micro-organisms called...
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Penicillin was one of the greatest scientific achievements of the ...
Q2.Who first discovered penicillin in 1928?
Q3.Penicillin is one of a group of medicines called which fight harmful bacteria.
Q4.From which type of micro-organism do we get penicillin?
Q5.Which of these could be treated with antibiotics?
Q6.Order the events that lead to the successful use of penicillin as an antibiotic chronologically.
To help you plan your 6 science lesson on: Microorganisms that help us (non-statutory), download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 6 science lesson on: Microorganisms that help us (non-statutory), download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 2 science lessons from the Why we group and classify living things unit, dive into the full primary science curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.