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

19

MIDDLE LEVEL

MODULE 1:

 UNDERSTANDING BACTERIA

BACTERIA EVERYWHERE

PROCEDURE

1

LAB:

 FIND THE BACTERIA

1. 

Have students work in teams of 3 to 4. Ask each team to 

select a team name, and then choose at least 4 to 6 areas 

of the classroom/school to examine. Have the students 

try for as many different areas as possible, but make sure 

the important areas, such as hands and/or under the 

fingernails, are tested by at least 2 teams. (If students 

are searching for bacteria on their hands or under their 

fingernails, they should wash their hands after they swab 

those areas.)  

2. 

Now, have each team hypothesize about which areas  

will have the most bacteria. Which will have the least 

bacteria? Why? How fast will the bacteria grow? Why?