Science and Our Food Supply: Investigating Food Safety from Farm to Table

SAFETY 

FIRST

• 

Wash hands thoroughly before and after the lab. 

• 

Disinfect all lab surfaces before and after working  

in the lab (see page 8). 

• 

Wear safety gloves and goggles.  

• 

Seal inoculated Petri dishes using Parafilm  

(see page 8). 

• 

Remind students never to open a dish with  

organisms growing in it. Some organisms could  

be dangerous pathogens. 

• 

After the lab is completed, discard all disposable  

dishes using safe techniques (see page 7). 

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18

MIDDLE LEVEL

MODULE 1:

 UNDERSTANDING 

BACTERIA EVERYWHERE

MATERIALS

For the Class 

• 

Dissecting microscope or hand lens to view microbial 

colonies 

• 

Additional sterile Petri dishes with nutrient agar and  

covers for expanded tests 

• 

Disinfecting solution to disinfect lab surfaces (20 ml of 

liquid household bleach in 1 L of tap water, see page 8) 

For Each Team 

• 

3 sterile Petri dishes with nutrient agar and covers 

• 

2 cups of sterile water 

• 

Parafilm to seal the dishes 

• 

Permanent marker 

• 

Safety gloves 

• 

Safety goggles 

• 

Lab Report Outline for each student (page 23) 

• 

Bacteria Everywhere Data Table to record results (page 24) 

GETTING STARTED