Often times kids think that all microorganisms are bad, because bacteria and viruses can make you sick. Believe it or not there are more good microorganisms than harmful ones. This video experiments with a microorganism that helps make something delicious--bread. Check out the experiment with yeast below and see if you can then come up with your own experiment that you would like to try.
Yogurt--Bacteria is what curdles the yogurt and makes it yogurt.
Cheese--Bacteria curdles the dairy products that make cheese.
Detergents--Tiny microorganisms called diatoms give detergents their cleaning power.
Compost--Microorganisms cause old plants and leaves to rot and decay, which creates fertile soil for planting new plants. Learn about composting here.
Mouth Germs--There are many germs in your mouth that are there to help fight off bad invaders and keep you healthy.
Vitamin K--Some germs help make Vitamin K, which helps stop the bleeding when you get cut.
Vaccines--Some germs are used to make vaccines, which help keep you from getting sick.
Digestion--Some bacteria help you digest your food.
Check out this video to learn about good and bad bacteria. This first video shows how germs (bad bacteria) are easily spread. It also shows how bacteria multiply. Kidshealth.com also gives a very good explanation of what germs are and how you can keep yourself healthy. Janitorial Cleaning Services also does a great job explaining the importance of hand washing. You can check out their site here.
This microorganism is definitely in the bad category. Influenza, or the flu, has cause millions of deaths. So how does the flu work? Watch and learn my friend.
I love Mythbusters! In the video below they scientifically test different ways of preventing the spread of bacteria when sneezing.
In this video the Mythbusters show how easily it is to spread bacteria! Gross!!
When you learn about viruses, it can be scary to learn that millions of people have died from influenza. Fortunately, science has improved and vaccinations have been created to fight viruses that could otherwise turn deadly. Here is a short explanation of vaccines.