Students can be assigned research-based activities to learn about bacteria. Following in-class discussion on the nature of bacteria, where it is found and different types of bacteria, students can be instructed to use print and electronic resources to craft a research report for the rest of the class. A variation of the research activity can break the students into two groups, with one covering harmful bacteria and one covering helpful bacteria. This activity helps students build researching, writing and presenting skills.
Growing bacteria in class allows students the ability to not only observe the basic process of bacteria in action, but also can be used to open their eyes to the sources of bacteria in everyday life. Students swab various locations and materials around the classroom before growing the bacteria in a Petri dish. This reinforces the role that bacteria plays in our world, by exposing just how many locations contain bacteria. Once the bacteria is growing, students have the ability to observe the bacteria with microscopes and other tools. This activity appeals to hands-on learning styles.
Another style of hands-on learning, modeling helps students understand the structure and appearance of different types of bacteria. Each student is provided with craft materials, such as modeling clay and pipe cleaners, and walked through the process of modeling basic types of bacteria. Once the models are created, students can compare them to actual photographs to identify similarities and gain further understanding about bacterial structure.
Students can create displays reflecting the important elements of bacteria science. Each student, or group of students, focuses on a particular aspect of bacteria. Once assigned a topic, each is tasked with creating a display board including images, models and other materials based on that subject. Displays are then arranged in a manner to allow other students from throughout the class, and possibly the rest of the school, to view them. This activity can be used as a final assignment during a unit on bacteria, serving to wrap up the lessons and allow the students to exhibit what they have learned.