Learning Objectives: That microorganisms have an important role in decay

1. Microorganisms and their application Learning Objectives: That microorganisms have an important role in decay That microorganisms have potential benefits to the environment. Investigate how microorganisms can break down waste, clean up pollution and help produce bio-fuels

2. Thought shower ‘ What are microbes useful for?’ As a class, write down as many ideas as possible on this slide . No judgement are to be made About the answers given until all ideas from the class are in and discussions take place

3. Oil spills are a mucky business Can you think of any oil disasters that have been in the news recently?

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13. Getting rid of rubbish! Banana peelings What goes into your compost? Tea bags Garden waste Potato peelings Old vegetables Egg shells How microorganisms are involved in decay

14. Lets take a closer look at decomposition at work

15. Composting • This type of waste is biodegradable which means it can be broken down into simpler substances by decomposing microbes and other life forms such as worms. • Microbes carry out respiration and so get their energy from this waste. They need this energy to grow, the by-product is compost. • Compost is great for the garden as it provides the soil with essential nutrients and improves the structure of the soil.

16. Why we should all compost • Composting reduces the amount of waste put into landfill sites. • Kitchen and garden waste buried in landfill sites cannot rot properly due to the lack of Oxygen. • The site will start to smell and due to the anaerobic conditions that develop, a mixture of microbes break down the organic matter giving off methane and carbon dioxide. Methane is a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming

17. Design a poster or leaflet for your local authority to encourage the public to compost ……… Remember to include key facts about composting and the science behind it

18. Sewage plants It is then sent to aeration tanks All that goes down your toilet normally ends up at a sewage works Firstly, sewage is sieved to get rid of solid items like toothbrushes! It then sinks to the bottom and forms a ‘soup’ at the top The sludge left at the bottom is heated up… Air is bubbled in and the good bacteria multiply digesting the harmful bacteria How microorganisms contribute to the breakdown of waste

19. Super microbes Hmmm… why is it that plastic bags take so long to break down? If it is bacteria that break down the bag, why is it we can’t isolate the bacteria and encourage them to grow in larger quantities? That’s a good point! Discuss with your partner what you think would be needed for the bacteria to grow in large numbers.

20. Super plastic consuming microbes It’s true! A 16 year old student came up with the idea behind us plastic degrading microbes! He put together some household items to make a medium for the bacteria to grow in. After tests to isolate the bacteria, he encouraged us to multiply and provided us with strips of plastic bags to break down! It only took us 6 weeks!

21. Scientist of the future I have discovered microbes that… Can you come up with any ideas as to what might be important uses for microbes for the future?

22. Research Task Produce a leaflet or poster explaining the advantages and disadvantages of the use of microorganisms for bio-fuels. Remember to use more than two sources of information to improve the reliability of your work How can microorganisms contribute to the production of bio-fuels?

23. What have we learnt? Discuss with your partner: • That microorganisms have an important role in decay… • That microorganisms have potential benefits to the environment… • That microorganisms can break down waste, clean up pollution and can help produce biofuels… Learning outcomes

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