Microbes Disease and
Vaccination
Name:
Class:
Date due in:
The instructions on how to complete this
project are at the end of the project.
Microbes Disease and Vaccination
Many living things are so small that they can only be seen through a microscope. These
living things are called microorganisms or Microbes.
Task 1
The three main types of Microbes are Bacteria, Viruses and Fungi.
We are very interested in two of these types of Microbe as they are the ones that cause
diseases most often in animals like humans. These are Bacteria and Viruses.
1. http://www.microbiologyonline.org.uk/about-microbiology/introducing-microbes
2. http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/ks3/science/organisms_behaviour_health/disease/ac
tivity/
3. http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/ks3/science/organisms_behaviour_health/disease/re
vision/1/
4. http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/aqa/keepinghealthy/defendinga
gainstinfectionrev1.shtml
Bacteria
Virus
Can you identify from your diagrams and sources of information what features Bacteria and
Viruses have in common and what features do they have that are different? You may put
your results in a table
Differences
Similarities
Task 2
Microbes can be harmful to the organism they infect. Harmful Microbes are called
Pathogenic Microbes. Can you list the names of some Bacteria and Viruses and the diseases
they cause, try to get at least 5 Viruses and 5 Bacterial diseases.
Sources
5. http://www.microbiologyonline.org.uk/about-microbiology/microbes-and-thehuman-body/microbes-and-disease?style=large
6. http://www.microbiologyonline.org.uk/students/microbe-passports-1
7. http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/ks3/science/organisms_behaviour_health/disease/re
vision/3/
8. http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/aqa/keepinghealthy/defendinga
gainstinfectionrev1.shtml
Bacterial diseases
Viral diseases
What is the difference between a Pathogen, an Infection and a Disease? Use source 5 from
above.
Pathogen
Infection
Disease
Task 3
How are Microbes spread?
The Science word for spread of diseases caused by Microbes is TRANSMISSION. Give an
example for each method of Transmission below
9. http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/ks3/science/organisms_behaviour_health/disease/re
vision/4/
Method 1
Method 2
Method 3
Method 4
Method 5
How are Microbes being
passed on in this
diagram? Highlight where
you think they are being
passed on?
Task 4
The Effects of Microbes on the Body
Microbes can have different effects on the body depending upon the type of Microbe or the
place where the Microbe has infected the body.
10. http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/ks3/science/organisms_behaviour_health/disease/re
vision/3/
11. http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/aqa/keepinghealthy/defendinga
gainstinfectionrev1.shtml
12. http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/aqa/keepinghealthy/defendinga
gainstinfectionrev2.shtml
How do Bacteria and Viruses affect the body once the body has become infected?
Bacteria
Virus
Task 5
The Body’s Defence against Disease.
How could a Microbe evade
Will’s first line of defence and
enter his body?
Label the diagram to show at
least four ways Microbes
could enter the body
13. http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/ks3/science/organisms_behaviour_health/disease/re
vision/5/
14. http://www.microbiologyonline.org.uk/about-microbiology/microbes-and-thehuman-body/microbes-and-disease
Task 6
The Immune system
The body has an immune system that kills Microbes if they get past the natural barriers you
described previously.
The immune system involves White blood
cells and antibodies.
Here you can see white blood cells dealing
with bacteria. They also use antibodies too.
15. http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/ks3/science/organisms_behaviour_health/disease/re
vision/5/
16. http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/aqa/keepinghealthy/defendinga
gainstinfectionrev3.shtml
17. http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/aqa/keepinghealthy/defendinga
gainstinfectionrev4.shtml
Can you explain in words or using a diagram how the white blood cells and antibodies
prevent disease? You could just do a list of the substances or jobs they do, or write a
paragraph of how they would attack a measles virus if it got into the body, you could do it in
the form of a story if you wished, describing how the bacteria would remove the Microbe
from your body. Or you could put your description next to the diagram above.
How do white blood Cells and antibodies defend our body against disease?
Task 7
Vaccination or Immunisation
When you are infected by a Microbe, it takes time for your body to start fighting the
infection. It does this by making enough white cells with the correct antibody. During this
time you may feel unwell.
You begin to recover when enough antibodies have been produced. After the Microbes have
been killed, the amount of antibodies goes down again. But some of the white blood cells
that produce the correct antibody remain in the blood.
After a second infection by the same Microbe, your body makes correct antibodies much
faster, because the white cells remain from when you first had the infection. The Microbe
doesn’t get a chance to make you ill this time, and we say that you are immune to the
Microbe and the disease it causes.
Watch the video from this link
18. http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/aqa/keepinghealthy/defendingagainsti
nfectionrev5.shtml
Can you put the vaccination process into diagrams or into your own words, can you draw a
cartoon or film strip to illustrate what goes on in the Vaccination process.
Explain the Vaccination process in diagrams or your own words. Why can’t you just have one
vaccination against all the different Microbes?
Task 8
Vaccinations have been in the news recently because of an outbreak of Measles in south
Wales.
Can you answer the following questions about Measles using the sources below; these are
news reports for children about Measles.
19. http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/22134038
20. http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/22167161
21. http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/22290181
22. http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/22212225
23. http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/22089413
What is Measles? What type of Microbe causes the disease and what are the symptoms in humans.
What serious effects can measles have on your health?
Why has this outbreak of Measles happened?
Why did parents choose not to have their Children vaccinated?
Imagine you are a parent would you choose to vaccinate your children or not? Explain why you have
made this choice, use the Science in these sources and the information you have discovered in this
project to help you decide on your choice
This home Learning project is designed to be completed by year 8 students. Students should
not merely copy and paste information from the internet/books but attempt to put it in
their own words where possible. An electronic copy of this project is available online at
www.plantsbrookscience.org.uk, click on KS3 at the top, then select year 8 and you will be
able to download a copy from there. This will enable you to access the links to the material
more easily. The links were correct as of September 2013. YOU CANNOT SUBMIT THE
WORK ELECTRONICALLY OR VIA USB STICK YOU WILL NEED TO PRINT OFF A HARD COPY
TO HAND IN TO YOUR TEACHER.
If you do not have internet access at home, you can use the library or the internet during
lunchtime in one of the ICT rooms or homework clubs. If you cannot do any of the above see
your Science teacher who will be able to give you some paper copies of the resources, these
will be the same as the electronic ones just in paper form. There are many sources to look at
so you can pick one you like best for each question. Do not just pick the first one, look at all
the sources and decide which one you understand best. If you are unsure ask your Science
teacher. However, do not ask your teacher the day before it is due in, it will be too late and
you should ask as soon as possible if you need help.
How will I be assessed?
To get a particular level you will need to show all of the evidence for the previous levels, e.g
for level 4 you have to do all of level 3 and level 4.
Level
What Evidence do you need to Show
Spelling
Correct use of Scientific Language
Presentation/ Innovation
SMSC
3
4
5
6
7
8
Teacher
feedback
Effort
Attainment
Student
Response
Parent
Response
Draw a labelled drawing of at least one of the types of
Microbe.
You can name of one disease caused by a bacteria and one
caused by a virus
Produce a fully labelled diagram of a bacteria and a virus.
Explain how the body is affected by bacteria and viruses once
they get into your body and how the body protects itself from
Microbes getting into the body
Describe at least 3 methods of how Microbes are spread
Explain how white cells protect out body against disease
Identify the features bacteria and viruses have in common and
the features they have that are different.
Describe and explain the principles (main points) of
Vaccination
Explain what Measles is caused by, how it affects the body
and why there has been an outbreak recently in south Wales
Decide if you would have your child vaccinated if you were a
parent and explain why you have made this decision.
WWW EBI