American Museum of Natural History: Elementary

 

 

Planet Earth Exhibit @ Museum of Natural History

 

 

Prior Lessons:        (Require 3 - 5 periods.)

Period1

 

Period2

             What is the relationship between bacteria and people?

           

Activity:  

              What do you know about the interaction between human beings and bacteria?  Elicit answers.  Make a list of the benefits and disadvantages of bacterial activity to people.

 

                            

Benefits                                     Disadvantages

 

1)

2)

3)

4)

 

**** Have the student fill out the above chart or make one in their notebooks.

**** Most of the students will concentrate on the disadvantage, focusing on germs, and sickness.

**** A few students may have knowledge about the role of bacteria in digestion as a benefit.

****Discuss the answers the students put into their charts.

 

Day 3                                    Focusing on the Benefits.

     Yogurt Demo: Preparing a Yogurt slide.

1) Make a thin mixture of water and plain yogurt

2) Add one drop of the mixture on a slide.

3) Add 1 drop of Methylene blue to the slide.

4) Cover the slide with a coverslip.

5) View under a microscope.

 

Explain that the rodshaped organisms they see are bacteria. These bacteria make yogurt by fermenting milk.

 

Benefit #1: Bacteria are major contributors to the human diet.

                                    Ex. Cheese, Vinegar, and Sauerkraut.        

Benefit #2: Decay: Bacteria are responsible for the recycling characteristic of our environment. Bacteria cause decay to take place and this replenishes the environment with nutrients.

Benefit #3: Digestion Bacteria are present in the intestines of human beings to aid the breakdown of sugars.

 

Day4

 

Aim:                            Do you know the real value of bacteria?

 

Class Trip: Museum of Natural History, Planet Earth Exhibit

 

Objectives:

 

Students will understand the relationship and common themes that connect mathematics, science and technology and apply these to other areas of learning.

Scientist have gone through great lengths to develop some understanding about the origin of life and the age of the earth. During the planet earth exhibit pay close attention to the connection, bacteria are believed to have in the formation of life, as we know it today.

         Be prepared to answer the following questions

            1) What role did the bacteria play in the establishment of life on land?

2) How were scientists able to estimate the time period related to the events dealing with question #1?

3) What was some of the evidence used to support the theories outlined in questions #1 and #2?

 

Create a worksheet or use those provided by the museum.

Collect the worksheet to ensure completion by the end of the trip.

 

Day5

Conclusions:

 *Redistribute worksheets and review student responses Focus on the contribution of bacteria to the oxygen we breathe today.

* Review the modern way rocks tell a story and how scientists have developed tools to aid in interpreting these events.

*Discuss the methods of dating rocks.

* Refer back to the list of Benefits and disadvantages.

* Have the students update their lists with the information from the trip.

* Conclude with an appropriate H.W. assignment.

---

MainMenu | About MSTEP | Lessons & Activities
Standards | Resources | Staff | Submit | Contact

MSTEP Webmaster | NYU home page | School of Education | School of Education Webmaster