Mighty Microbes

Civil Engineering

Mighty Microbes explores civil engineering in activities designed to develop technical and creative skills whilst learning about the importance of microbes. The skill builder will enable pupils to thread needles and sew a range of stitches. They will use these skills in tinker time to create their own mighty microbe superhero or villain character to help to teach younger children about the characteristics of microbes.

EXPLORATION

Pupils explore 3 types of microbes and their characteristics: bacteria, viruses and fungi. Pupils will study one microbe and make their own drawing, painting or sculpture.

SKILL BUILDER

Pupils use the video tutorial to practise threading a needle and sewing different kinds of stitches.

TINKER TIME

Pupils will use their sewing skills from the skill builder to create their own mighty microbe superhero or villain character.

MEET AN ENGINEER

Katherine - Civil Engineer

These activity has been inspired by Katherine, a Civil Engineer.

To help children better understand what engineering is and what engineers do, it is important that they have the opportunity to meet one (even virtually!)

Use this video to introduce a real engineer to your class.

KATHERINE.pdf

Making Microbes

This activity explores microbes and their characteristics. It focuses on three main types of microbes

bacteria
viruses
fungi

Pupils will study one high quality image of a microbe and make their own

drawing
painting
sculpting

It might be fun to provide pupils with a petri dish to present and photograph their final models, drawings or paintings.

exploration microbes

Exploration Teaching slides

microbes images

Microbes Images

copies of microbes images

One or more of the following:

Colouring materials
Painting materials
Playdoh
Petri dishes (optional)

How is compost made?

This 6.30 minute video produced by RecycleNow.com explains how compost is made with the help of creatures and microbes!

Can pupils name some of the creatures and microbes shown in the video?

Sewing

(approx. 0.5 hours)

Use the video to demonstrate how to thread a needle using a needle threading hack and practise different stitches: running stitch, back stitch and over casting.