Objective
Observe and summarize information about microorganisms.
Using your fact sheet, complete this worksheet.
Microorganism Facts
Use the picture below to answer questions #1-#3.
A
B
C
1. Identify which picture represents the bacillus (rod)-shaped bacteria.
a. A
b. B
c. C
2. Identify which picture represents the spirllum (spiral)-shaped bacteria.
a. A
b. B
c. C
3. Identify which picture represents the coccus (round)-shaped bacteria.
a. A
b. B
c. C
1
Objective
Observe and summarize information about microorganisms.
Identify which organisms are producers, consumers, and decomposers.
_____ 4. Algae
A. Consumer only.
_____ 5. Bacteria
B. Decomposer only.
_____ 6. Fungi
C. Producer only.
_____ 7. Protozoan
D. Producer & consumer.
E. Consumer, decomposer, & producer.
8. How do algae move?
a. Cilia
b. Flagellum
c. Pseudopods
d. They can’t move on their own.
9. Which microorganisms are found everywhere?
a. Algae
b. Bacteria
c. Fungi
d. Protozoan
e. Algae & protozoan
f. Bacteria & fungi
g. Fungi & protozoan
h. All are found everywhere
10. Which microorganisms are found in water?
a. Algae
b. Bacteria
c. Fungi
d. Protozoan
e. Algae & protozoan
f. Bacteria & fungi
g. Fungi & protozoan
h. All are found everywhere
2
Objective
Observe and summarize information about microorganisms.
Characteristics of Protozoans
Use the pictures to answer questions #11-#15.
A
B
C
11. Identify the Euglena.
a. A
b. B
c. C
12. Which protozoan moves using pseudopods?
a. A
b. B
c. C
13. Which protozoan moves using cilia?
a. A
b. B
c. C
14. Identify the amoeba.
a. A
b. B
c. C
15. Which protozoan moves using a flagellum?
a. A
b. B
c. C
16. I am an animal-like protist. I am oval-shaped and I move using cilia. I am a(n)…
a. amoeba.
b. Euglena.
c. paramecium.
d. algae.
17. I live in water. I’m green, but not with envy. I can make my own food, but sometimes I go
out, find it, and eat it. I am a(n)…
a. amoeba.
b. Euglena.
c. paramecium.
d. algae.
3
Objective
Observe and summarize information about microorganisms.
18. I am plant-like. I can be anywhere from single-celled to multi-celled. My biggest
problem is wherever I am, I’m stuck there. You see, I can’t move. I am a(n)…
a. amoeba.
b. Euglena.
c. paramecium.
d. algae.
Microorganisms Vocabulary
Match the term with its definition.
_____ 19. Single-celled organism
_____ 20. Bacteria
_____ 21. Organism
_____ 22. Culture
_____ 23. Fungi
_____ 24. Decomposer
_____ 25. Producer
_____ 26. Consumer
A. Microscopic single-celled organisms that exist
everywhere.
B. To grow microorganisms in a specially prepared
nutrient medium i.e. growing mold on bread, your
bread is your nutrient medium.
C. An organism, often a bacterium or fungus, that
feeds on and breaks down dead plant or animal
matter.
D. Finds and eats its food.
E. Organisms that are neither plant nor animals,
but have characteristics of both and absorb food
from whatever they are growing on.
F. A living thing that can only be seen with the aid
of magnification.
G. Any living thing.
H. A living thing, like a green plant, that makes its
food from simple substances and sunlight.
I. Any organism that has only one cell, the smallest
unit of life.
J. A part of an experiment that is changed.
4
Objective
Observe and summarize information about microorganisms.
Types of Microorganisms
 Bacteria
Characteristics
o Belong to Kingdom Monera
o Simplest life on Earth
 Does not have a nucleus
 Have a cell wall
 Is a prokaryotic cell (prokaryotic – without the nucleus)
o Found everywhere
o Made up of a single cell
 Called single-celled organisms
o Shapes
 Round
 Rod
 Spiral
o Some bacteria can move
 Use a flagellum to move
5
Objective
Observe and summarize information about microorganisms.
o Some bacteria are producers (make their own food)
 Example - Cyanobacteria
o Others are consumers (have to go out and find their food)
Beneficial Uses
o Beneficial uses of bacteria.
 Provides nitrogen for plants.
 Fixes the soil (changes the nitrogen to a form the plant can use).
 Get minerals from ores.
 Used to make plastics and laundry detergents.
 Help make antibiotics.
 Food production.
 Yogurt
 Sauerkraut
 Pickles
 Olives
 Chocolate
6
Objective
Observe and summarize information about microorganisms.
 Cheese
 Soy Sauce
Harmful Effects
o Harmful effects of bacteria.
 Cause Diseases (<1% of bacteria cause diseases)
 Three ways to get disease.
 Through air (breathe in).
 Through touch.
 Eating contaminated food.
 Examples of bacterial diseases.
 Dental caries (cavities).
 Strep throat.
 Salmonella.
 Typhoid fever.
o Causes disease in farm animals.
o Causes metal to rust and wear away.
 Fungi
Characteristics
o Consumers
 Eat by absorbing food
 Get food from soil, wood, decaying organic matter, or living
plants and other organisms
o Can be single-celled to the largest organisms alive
o Can’t move on their own
o Fungi are decomposers
 Feeds on and breaks down dead
organisms
o Examples
 Mushroom
 Truffles
 Lichen
7
Objective
Observe and summarize information about microorganisms.
 Yeast
 Mold
Beneficial Uses
o Antibiotic Penicillin is produced by a fungus
o Benefits of fungi.
 Used to make
chemicals used in
manufacturing.
 Produce antibiotics
(example – penicillin).
 Clean the
environment.
 Food production.
 Cheese (blue
cheese and
Roquefort
examples)
 Mushrooms
 Yeast
 Bread
 Truffles
 Soy sauce
Harmful Effects
o Harmful effects of fungi.
 Causes 70% of all crop diseases.
 Diseases in humans.
 Respiratory (lung) diseases (example – pneumonia).
 Athlete’s foot.
 Ringworm (makes a raised round circle that looks like it was
caused by a worm).
8
Objective
Observe and summarize information about microorganisms.
 Protists
Characteristics
o Single-celled organisms
 Found in water
o Are both producers and consumers
o Types
 Amoeba
 No set shape
 Moves using pseudopods (false feet)
 Consumer
o Eats algae, bacteria, other protozoans, dead plant or animal
matter
 Euglena
 Makes its own food (producer)
o Is green in color from chloroplasts
 Green sack that produces energy required by Euglena
o Moves using whip-like structure – flagellum (flagella plural)
9
Objective
Observe and summarize information about microorganisms.
 Paramecium
o Looks like a foot
 Moves using cilia
o Little hair-like structures all around the body
 Is a consumer
o Eats algae, bacteria, other protozoans, dead plant or animal
matter
 Spirogyra
 Simple plant
o Producer Is green in color from chloroplasts
 Green sack that produces energy
 Free floating (go-with-the-flow)
10
Objective
Observe and summarize information about microorganisms.
 Algae
o Plant-like
o Producers
o Free-floating (go-with-the-flow)
o Primary food source for animals living in the water
o Can be from single-cell to 100 meters long
Beneficial Uses
o Benefits of algae.
o Produce over 50% of the oxygen we breathe
 Found in water
 Used in …
 livestock feed.
 cosmetics.
 prescription drug production.
 identifying possible environmental problems.
 food production.
 Sushi.
 Ice cream.
 Pudding
 Salad dressing.
 Syrup.
o Primarily used as a thickener.
Harmful Effects
 Harmful effects.
11
Objective
Observe and summarize information about microorganisms.
 Algal blooms.
 Certain types of algae grow rapidly.
 Grow large enough to form visual patches.
 Can deplete oxygen in water.
 Blocks sunlight.
 Can release toxins dangerous to animals and humans.
 Disease caused by Protists
 Giardia (diarrhea and abdominal pain)
 Amebic Dysentery
 Don’t drink untreated water
12
Objective
Observe and summarize information about microorganisms.
Microorganism Facts - Key
1. Identify which picture represents the bacillus (rod)-shaped bacteria.
b. C (3 choices)
2. Identify which picture represents the spirllum (spiral)-shaped bacteria.
a. B (3 choices)
3. Identify which picture represents the coccus (round)-shaped bacteria.
c. A (3 choices)
C 4. Algae (7 choices)
E 5. Bacteria (7 choices)
D 6. Fungi (7 choices)
D 7. Protozoan (7 choices)
8. How do algae move?
d. They can’t move on their own.
9. Which microorganisms are found everywhere?
f. Bacteria & fungi (8 choices)
10. Which microorganisms are found in water?
e. Algae & protozoan (8 choices)
13
Objective
Observe and summarize information about microorganisms.
Characteristics of Protozoans
11. Identify the Euglena.
b. B (3 choices)
12. Which protozoan moves using pseudopods?
c. C (3 choices)
13. Which protozoan moves using cilia?
a. A (3 choices)
14. Identify the amoeba.
c. C (3 choices)
15. Which protozoan moves using a flagellum?
b. B (3 choices)
16. I am an animal-like protist. I am oval-shaped and I move using cilia. I am a(n)…
c. paramecium
17. I live in water. I’m green, but not with envy. I can make my own food, but
sometimes I go out, find it, and eat it. I am a(n)…
b. Euglena
14
Objective
Observe and summarize information about microorganisms.
18. I am plant-like. I can be anywhere from single-celled to multi-celled. My biggest
problem is wherever I am, I’m stuck there. You see, I can’t move. I am…
d. algae
I 19. Single-celled organism
A 20. Bacteria
G 21. Organism
B 22. Culture
E 23. Fungi
C 24. Decomposer
H 25. Producer
D 26. Consumer
15
Objective
Observe and summarize information about microorganisms.
Microorganism Facts – Scoring Guide
1. b (3 choices)
2. a (3 choices)
3. c (3 choices)
4. C (7 choices)
5. E (7 choices)
6. D (7 choices)
7. D (7 choices)
8. d
9. f (8 choices)
10. c (8 choices)
11. b
12. c (3 choices)
13. a (3 choices)
14. c (3 choices)
15. b (3 choices)
16. c
17. b
18. d
19. I (8 choices)
20. A (8 choices)
21. G (8 choices)
22. B (8 choices)
23. E (8 choices)
24. C (8 choices)
25. H (8 choices)
26. D (8 choices)
Scoring Guide
24-26 – 3
20-23 – 2.5
13-19 – 2
8-19 – 1.5
5-7 – 1
1-4 – .5
0–0
16