All About Bacteria

Bacteria are microscopic, single-celled organisms that are EVERYWHERE. Bacteria play all kinds of roles in the environment and within living organisms. There are good bacteria that help us digest food and decompose waste and bad bacteria that can make us sick. The more you know about bacteria, the less likely you are to get sick and the more likely you will be able to use them for good.

• GOT IT!

• I don't get it.

True or False: We can see bacteria with our naked eye.

• True

• False

True or False: All bacteria are bad.

• True

• False

Good bacteria can help _______________. (Choose 3)

• enrich nutrients in the soil

• help us properly digest food and absorb nutrients, decompose of waste materials

• make food such as cheese, yogurt and fermented foods.

• make you sick

Bacteria are _______________.

• single cellular

• multicellular

Bad bacteria attack organisms by releasing toxic chemicals that are poisonous to plants and animals, this causes _______________.

• happiness

• illness

• wellness

• sadness

In order to see bacteria, a single bacteria cell needs to grow and replicate by about _______________ times.

• 1 hundred

• 1 thousand

• 1 million

• 1 billion

We can grow and view bacteria on a “plate” full of _______________ called Luria broth.

• fire

• water

• soil

• nutrients

A group of visible bacteria is called a _______________.

• pack

• squad

• colony

• classroom

For science experiments, it is important to set up an incubator of _______________ so that the growth of the bacteria can be easily seen.

• 85-100 °F

• 60-75 °F

• 30-45 °F

• 0-15 °F