Bacteria in the human digestive system
I can describe the important roles of bacteria in the human digestive system.
Bacteria in the human digestive system
I can describe the important roles of bacteria in the human digestive system.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Bacteria are living organisms; each bacterium is a microorganism made of a single living cell.
- Some bacteria are pathogens that cause diseases, but many bacteria are harmless and some are helpful.
- Helpful bacteria live inside the human digestive system.
- They release enzymes that digest food we cannot digest ourselves.
- They also help to protect us against pathogens that enter the digestive system by competing against them.
Keywords
Bacteria - Bacteria are unicellular organisms.
Microorganism - A microorganism is an organism that can only be seen using a microscope.
Pathogen - A pathogen is a microorganism that causes disease.
Enzyme - An enzyme is a biological catalyst that speeds up the rate of reaction such as digestion.
Competition - Competition occurs between living organisms, e.g. bacteria competes for food and space to live.
Common misconception
All bacteria are bad for us and make us unwell.
The lesson looks at how helpful bacteria in the gut help us digest our food, provide vitamins, and outcompete harmful bacteria.
To help you plan your year 8 science lesson on: Bacteria in the human digestive system, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 8 science lesson on: Bacteria in the human digestive system, 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.
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Explore more key stage 3 science lessons from the Human digestive system unit, dive into the full secondary science curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Licence
Lesson video
Starter quiz
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Exit quiz
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