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Micro-Aliens: Life Forms of Another World
Grades 4-6
Could life have arisen in ancient Martian lakes or springs? If life is found on another planet, how will it look? Scientists believe that it will likely be microscopic or microbes. This class explores the world of microbes and larger microscopic life. Students become field biologists as they obtain water samples and explore a variety of living critters. We explore population estimates, food chains, water quality tests, and other topics to better understand an aquatic environment and the range of life that exists in a world beyond our normal vision.
Vocabulary:
algae
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food chains
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microorganism
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bacteria
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food webs
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microscopic
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ecosystem
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fungi
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specimen
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environment
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microbe |
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Possible Activities:
- Introduction -- Do you think we’ll ever find life on another planet? What kind of life? List. Would it resemble anything on Earth?
- Conduct water quality profile tests: oxygen, pH, temperature, and phosphate levels.
- Experiment with a larger specimen. "Going Fishing Simulation" -- catch, identify, and record specimen
- Observe and record descriptions of the specimen using microscopes and/or magnifiers.
- Review data and discuss observations.
- Compose a food chain/web for this ecosystem.
- Explore microbes in various water samples.
- Describe and/or draw what you find.
- Closure: What did we find out? This is the time to review highlights of today’s investigations and acknowledge any questions that may have arisen as a result.
Pre-Visit Activities:
- Explain reasons for field trip (discuss theme).
- Stress following directions exactly and listening carefully.
- Introduce vocabulary if appropriate.
- Work cooperatively on a project, for helpful experience.
- Discuss how living things can be divided into Kingdoms — reference animal, plant, fungi, protists and monerans (optional).
Post-Visit Activities:
- Obtain a microorganism growing kit from a biological supply resource (ask instructor for resource information).
- Create a habitat for the above organisms and conduct long-term observations.
- Visit one of the Web site references for further explorations.
Web Site References:
Microbe Zoo/Water World: Find out more about this microscopic world at:
http://commtechlab.msu.edu/sites/dlc-me/zoo/zwmain.html
Microbes: Stunning visuals and interactive activities dealing with microbes. Find out more at:
http://www.pfizer.com/rd/microbes
Why are NASA scientists so interested in microbes? Find out more about microbes and “microbial mats” — a focus for evidence of life on Mars.
http://astrobiology.arc.nasa.gov/intro.html
and http://nai.arc.nasa.gov
State of California Science Standards:
Life Sciences
Grade 4
2. All organisms need energy and matter to live and grow. As a basis for understanding this concept, students know:
c. producers and consumers (herbivores, carnivores, omnivores, and decomposers) are related in food chains and food webs, and may compete with each other for resources in an ecosystem.
d. decomposers, including many fungi, insects, and microorganisms recycle matter from dead plants and animals.
3. Living things depend on one another and their environment for survival. As a basis for understanding this concept, students know:
a. ecosystems can be characterized in terms of their living and nonliving components.
b. for any particular environment, some kinds of plants and animals survive well, some survive less well, and some cannot survive at all.
Grade 6
5. Organisms in ecosystems exchange energy and nutrients among themselves and with the physical environment. As a basis for understanding this concept, students know:
b. over time, matter is transferred from one organism to others in the food web, and between organisms and the physical environment.
d. populations of organisms can be categorized by the functions they serve in an ecosystem.
e. different kinds of organisms may play similar ecological roles in similar biomes.
f. the number and types of organisms an ecosystem can support depends on the resources available and abiotic factors, such as quantity of light and water, range of temperatures, and soil composition.
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