LibGuides: Educator Guide: Zoom into Microbiology grade 6-8: Zoom Into Microbiology grades 6-8

Zoom into Microbiology

Tips to Come Prepared

Before you visit the Genovesi Environmental Study Center (GESC) with your class, review the Educator's Guide to prepare for your students.

Read the Essential Questions (p. 1) and Connections to Standards (p. 2) to decide how you want to link your curriculum with your field trip
Complete the Pre-Visit Lesson with your class activating student interest and engagement
Come to GESC ready to engage and learn with our experiential, hands-on field trip program, Zoom into Microbiology

Library Finds

Gut Bugs, Dust Mites, and Other Microorganisms You Can't Live Without by Mark Weakland The world is full of microscopic creatures. But who would have thought that we needed these tiny creatures to digest the food in our bodies or make the oxygen we need to breathe? Get out your microscope, and get ready to examine the microorganisms we can't live without.
Microscopes and Telescopes by Rebecca Stefoff Presents the history of the telescope and the microscope, explains how they work, and looks at their use today.
Cell Scientists by Fekany Kimberly Lee Many scientists have dedicated their lives to finding out how cells work. In this appealing book, readers will learn about scientists whose research on cells has made a big impact on the world of science. Robert Hooke, Joan Wright Goodman, Mathias Schleiden, Hans Krebs, Gerty and Carl Cori, Rita Levi-Montalcini, Stanley Cohen, and Elaine Fuchs are some of the inspiring scientists that are featured, as well as such topics as cell theory and DNA. The vibrant photos, fascinating facts, and engaging sidebars work in conjunction with the easy-to-read text, accessible glossary and index, and captivating hands-on lab activity to provide readers with an inviting reading experience that will leave them eager to learn more!
Pioneers in Cell Biology by Elizabeth R. C. Cregan Explore the lives and work of incredible cell biologists in this captivating book! From Gregor Mendel to Rita Levi-Montalcini, Anton van Leeuwenhoek to August Weismann, readers will be amazed at the things these incredible scientists discovered! Single-celled organisms, mitosis, dominant and recessive genes, stem cells, and cloning are just some of the topics that readers will explore as they read through this book that features plenty of vivid, detailed images, stimulating facts, captivating sidebars, and easy-to-read text. An engaging lab activity is featured to further delight and captivate readers.
Invincible Microbe by Jim Murphy; Alison Blank This is the story of a killer that has been striking people down for thousands of years: tuberculosis. After centuries of ineffective treatments, the microorganism that causes TB was identified, and the cure was thought to be within reach--but drug-resistant varieties continue to plague and panic the human race. The "biography" of this deadly germ, an account of the diagnosis, treatment, and "cure" of the disease over time, and the social history of an illness that could strike anywhere but was most prevalent among the poor are woven together in an engrossing, carefully researched narrative. Bibliography, source notes, index.

Essential Questions

What is microscopy?
How does a compound microscope work?
What are living things made of?

Our Educator Guide

Zoom into Microbiology Educator Guide

Sora eBooks

Access these free ebooks by signing in to the Sora app with your NYC DOE credentials.

The Invisible War by Aisla Wild; Briony Barr (Created by); Gregory Crocetti; Jeremy Barr (Created by); Ben Hutchings (Illustrator) One Nurse. Trillions of microbes. A deadly WWI battle. In France of 1916, battlefield nurse Sister Annie Barnaby encounters a strain of lethal bacteria while treating a patient with dysentery. This army of bacteria invades deep into her gut, rallying the resident microbes to fight for their lives--and hers! Enter the phage, deadly microscopic predators, ready to wage war and protect their host. This graphic novel examines what happens when bacteria attacks the body and how the body's defenses respond, drawing upon parallels to wartime combat.
Small Matters by Heather Ferranti Kinser Can something small matter at all? Of course it can! In this book for young readers (who know a thing or two about being small), you can take a super close look at details too little to be seen with the human eye. Powerful shots from scanning electron microscopes show shark skin, bird feathers, the hairs on a honeybee's eye, and so much more, proving that tiny details can make a BIG difference.
What Do Scientists Do All Day? by Jane Wilsher; Maggie Li (Illustrator) *2021 NSTA-CBC Outstanding Science Trade Book  What do scientists do all day? Find out in this beautifully illustrated book that features more than 100 scientists at work. Little ones can explore 14 different colorful scenes, turning the page after each to learn about eight special scientists you will find there. Spot the scientists and learn about the jobs they do in these fascinating places: nature reserve, health center, Arctic research station, hospital, museum, our new city, mission control and on the space station, observatory, aerospace center, botanical gardens, Earth Science center, energy plant, university, and technology and computer lab. Meet the environmentalist at the nature reserve, the nurse at the hospital, the archaeologist at the museum, the navigation engineer at mission control, the astronomer at the observatory, the fungi specialist at the botanical gardens...you'll be amazed at the range of things scientists work on.
All in a Drop by Lori Alexander Robert F. Sibert Honor Award winner A Junior Library Guild Selection A 2020 Outstanding Science Trade Book A New York Public Library Best of 2019 A 2020 Best STEM Book by NSTA and CBC For fans of the "Who Was" series, this lively, accessible, and full-color chapter book biography shows how a self-taught scientist was the first to observe the microbial life in and around us. By building his own microscope, Antony van Leeuwenhoek advanced humanity's understanding of our oft-invisible world around us.  Microbes are everywhere: in the soil and oceans, in snow, and inside our bodies. But in Antony van Leeuwenhoek's time, people believed that what they saw with their own eyes was all that existed in the world. How did a simple tradesman--who didn't go to college or speak English or Latin like all the other scientists--change everyone's minds?             Proving that remarkable discoveries can come from the most unexpected people and places, this eye-opening chapter book, illustrated with lively full-color art, celebrates the power of curiosity, ingenuity, and persistence.
The Vast Wonder of the World by Mélina Mangal; Luisa Uribe (Illustrator) "A must-purchase picture book biography of a figure sure to inspire awe and admiration among readers."--School Library Journal (starred review) Extraordinary illustrations and lyrical text present pioneering African American scientist Ernest Everett Just. Ernest Everett Just was not like other scientists of his time. He saw the whole, where others saw only parts. He noticed details others failed to see. He persisted in his research despite the discrimination and limitations imposed on him as an African American. His keen observations of sea creatures revealed new insights about egg cells and the origins of life. Through stunning illustrations and lyrical prose, this picture book presents the life and accomplishments of this long overlooked scientific pioneer.
Germs up Close by Sara Levine Have you ever seen a germ up close? Really, really close? Award-winning science writer Sara Levine introduces readers to a variety of viruses, bacteria, protozoa, and fungi that can make people sick--including SARS-CoV-2, E. coli, and ringworm. Micrographs and illustrations show extremely close-up views of the germs that are at once incredible and a little gross. The book concludes with tips for staying healthy as well as information about the immune system, vaccines, and medicines. It gives readers accessible, up-to-date scientific information presented in a way that emphasizes curiosity rather than fear.

Zoom into Microbiology

Materials for Pre-Visit Lesson

Materials for Post-Visit Lesson

Exit Slip

Marvelous Microbiology Facts

A dollar bill can have 3000 types of bacteria.
Most antibodies are made from bacteria. A clean mouth has between 1000 and 100,000 bacteria on each tooth.
A bacteria called actinomycetes contributes to the 'smell of rain' A particular odor (the earthy smell after rain) is released by the actinomycetes just before the rain as the soil becomes damp. It is a byproduct called geosmin.
Chocolate has an antibacterial effect on the mouth and protects against tooth decay. Dark chocolate has flavonoids with are shown to fight tooth decay. It also has antioxidants, which in larger amounts (in your saliva) can help fight gum disease.

Educator Guide: Zoom into Microbiology grade 6-8: Zoom Into Microbiology grades 6-8

Zoom into Microbiology

Tips to Come Prepared

Library Finds

Essential Questions

Our Educator Guide

Sora eBooks

Zoom into Microbiology

Materials for Pre-Visit Lesson

Materials for Post-Visit Lesson

Marvelous Microbiology Facts

Connections to Standards