The BioEd Online site, created by the dedicated staff at the Baylor College of Medicine, is a veritable cornucopia of material for science educators. The lesson plans are all classroom tested and high-quality. This particular corner of the site focuses on the world of microorganisms. The site includes lessons, complete with video clips, slideshows, and .pdf files. The offerings here include...

This Web site from the American Museum of Natural History (last mentioned in the October 4, 2002 NSDL Life Sciences Report) provides an introduction to microbes, covering the three major types -- bacteria, viruses, and protists (protozoa). The site contains very brief but colorful and effective descriptions of each type of microbe. The use of animation in the Size-O-Meter feature help relate the...

In an age of anti-bacterial soaps and cleaners, fears about microbes seem to pervade our society. This one-hour lesson, designed for sixth to 12th grade students, incorporates a New York Times article about widespread germ worries. The lesson encourages students to think about common misconceptions regarding germs, and to create public service announcements that counter a misconception. The lesson...