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IPSE Biological Activities

Even though we cannot see it with just our eyes, very tiny bacteria and viruses are all over the Earth. Some bacteria even live inside our bodies! Some bacteria make us sick, while other bacteria are actually helpful to us. Luckily, both our bodies and scientists have developed ways to protect us from the bacteria that makes us sick.

The following activities will help you discover how bacteria grow, how we fight harmful bacteria, and even what bacteria looks like. We hope you enjoy these activities and do them together as a family.

	Cell Culture Can you see microoroganisms? Microorganisms are so tiny that you need a microscope to see them normally. However, in this activity you can create a cell culture where you grow millions of them and now you can see them! doc/pdf
	Biofilm Do bacteria form "communities"? If you haven't brushed your teeth, you may have even noticed a slippery layer of bacteria in the form of a biofilm. In this activity you will discover, however, that biofilms do not grow equally on different surfaces.doc/pdf
	Antibiotic Resistance Do we need antibiotics every time we get sick? Antibiotics are a type of medication that your doctor can prescribe to you to make you better. But do antibiotics become less effective over time? In this activity, you can explore using beans!doc/pdf
	Wash Your Hands! Do you wash your hands well? Research says that many people say they wash their hands after using the bathroom but less actually do! This activity will help you see how well you actually wash your hands and why you should.doc/pdf
	Immune System Memory Game How does our body cope with so many germs around us? Our body has developed a fantastic defense team called the immune system! In this activity, you can discover how our body uses the immune system to "remember" what has made us sick before! doc/pdf
	Pathogen Modeling What do germs look like? The scientific name for a germ that makes us sick is called a pathogen and different pathogens actually look very different! In this activity, you can make models of pathogens and share them with your friends.doc/pdf