Microorganisms that help us (non-statutory)
I can explain how micro-organisms can be used to improve our health.
Microorganisms that help us (non-statutory)
I can explain how micro-organisms can be used to improve our health.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Switch to our new teaching resources now - designed by teachers and leading subject experts, and tested in classrooms.
These resources were created for remote use during the pandemic and are not designed for classroom teaching.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Antibiotics are medicines that fight infections caused by micro-organisms called bacteria.
- Penicillin belongs to a group of medical drugs called antibiotics.
- Penicillin is made from a type of mould.
- In 1928, Scottish doctor, Alexander Fleming, discovered the effects of penicillin.
- The discovery of penicillin was one of the greatest scientific achievements of the 1900s.
Keywords
Antibiotics - Antibiotics are a type of medicine that can kill bacteria.
Bacteria - Bacteria are a type of micro-organism that can be found in all natural environments.
Alexander Fleming - Dr Alexander Fleming was a Scottish scientist who discovered the first antibiotic, penicillin.
Penicillin - Penicillin is a type of antibiotic made from a fungus.
Mould - Mould is a type of fungi which grows and forms a fuzzy coating on organic matter.
Common misconception
Pupils may think that all moulds and fungi are harmful and no useful products can be extracted from them.
Explain that, while many moulds and fungi can be harmful to humans and other animals, many have uses in medicine such as penicillin, once they have been properly processed by scientists.
To help you plan your year 6 science lesson on: Microorganisms that help us (non-statutory), download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 6 science lesson on: Microorganisms that help us (non-statutory), download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 2 science lessons from the Why we group and classify living things unit, dive into the full secondary science curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Equipment
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
Loading...
Starter quiz
6 Questions
Exit quiz
6 Questions
