Learning Objectives That microorganisms have an important role

Learning Objectives: • That microorganisms have an important role in decay • That microorganisms have potential benefits to the environment. • Investigate how microorganisms can break down waste, clean up pollution and help produce bio-fuels

Thought shower ‘ What are microbes useful for? ’ As a class, write down as many ideas as possible on this slide. No judgement are to be made About the answers given until all ideas from the class are in and discussions take place

Oil spills are a mucky business Can you think of any oil disasters that have been in the news recently?

Banana peelings Getting rid of rubbish! What goes into your compost? Garden waste Egg shells Potato peelings Old vegetables How microorganisms are involved in decay Tea bags

Lets take a closer look at decomposition at work

Composting Ø This type of waste is biodegradable which means it can be broken down into simpler substances by decomposing microbes and other life forms such as worms. Ø Microbes carry out respiration and so get their energy from this waste. They need this energy to grow, the byproduct is compost. Ø Compost is great for the garden as it provides the soil with essential nutrients and improves the structure of the soil.

Why we should all compost Ø Composting reduces the amount of waste put into landfill sites. Ø Kitchen and garden waste buried in landfill sites cannot rot properly due to the lack of Oxygen. Ø The site will start to smell and due to the anaerobic conditions that develop, a mixture of microbes break down the organic matter giving off methane and carbon dioxide. Methane is a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming

r o r e t s o p a l a c o l Design r u o y r o f t e l f o lea t y t i author e public h t e g a encour ompost to c ……… e d u l c n i o t r e b m e t m u e o R b a s t c a f e h key t d n a g n i t compos behind it science

Sewage plants Firstly, sewage is sieved to get rid of solid items like toothbrushes! All that goes down your toilet normally ends up at a sewage works It then sinks to the bottom and forms a ‘soup’ at the top It is then sent to aeration tanks Air is bubbled in and the good bacteria multiply digesting the harmful bacteria The sludge left at the bottom is heated up… How microorganisms contribute to the breakdown of waste

Super microbes Hmmm… why is it that plastic bags take so long to break down? If it is bacteria that break down the bag, why is it we can’t isolate the bacteria and encourage them to grow in larger quantities? That’s a good point! Discuss with your partner what you think would be needed for the bacteria to grow in large numbers.

Super plastic consuming microbes It’s true! A 16 year old student came up with the idea behind us plastic degrading microbes! He put together some household items to make a medium for the bacteria to grow in. After tests to isolate the bacteria, he encouraged us to multiply and provided us with strips of plastic bags to break down! It only took us 6 weeks!

Scientist of the future Can you come up with any ideas as to what might be important uses for microbes for the future? I have discovered microbes that…

Research Task How can microorganisms contribute to the production of bio-fuels? Produce a leaflet or poster explaining the advantages and disadvantages of the use of microorganisms for bio-fuels. Remember to use more than two sources of information to improve the reliability of your work

What have we learnt? Discuss with your partner: • That microorganisms have an important role in decay… • That microorganisms have potential benefits to the environment… • That microorganisms can break down waste, clean up pollution and can help produce biofuels… Learning outcomes

Alt +on. Click on the red boxes to write Alt + Click on this callout to explain Alt + Click this callout to two explain two things you are howwell you learned it! how you learned it! have understood about this task/topic! Alt + Click on this Alt callout Alt + +on Click onon this callout Altboxes +to Click on this why callout + Click the three green to Alt Click callout explain to explain where you write three things you already you are stillto unsure this task/topic, Alt + Click blue box write about one knew learned this! on the learned this! thisabout task/topic! orabout to why you thing you are still notexplain sure this are interested in Alt + click to input text the question you have task/topic, or a question you would likewritten! Is there in the class that has this point in toanyone answer! Shift + Click to rotate clockwise the middle two boxes? Ctrl + Alt + click to Shrink Ctrl + click to enlarge Hide instructions Show instructions