Resources
SGM produces a wide range of microbiology teaching resources for all age groups from primary to post-16. Most of these are free, or sold at low cost. The material is carefully targeted to meet curriculum requirements and fit in with the specifications for science.
The resources include information books and fact sheets, posters, practical techniques, microbiology investigations and web-based material.
Books
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The Secret World of Microbes
Supports the teaching of microbiology at Key Stage 2/3.
First copy free to school members. To join, go to www.sgm.ac.uk/membership/
Price to non‐members £9.99.
- To order, please email book@sgm.ac.uk
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The Good, The Bad and The Ugly – Microbes
Supports the teaching of Microbiology at Key Stage 3/4.
First copy free to school members. To join, go to www.sgm.ac.uk/membership/
Price to non-members £10.
- To order, please email book@sgm.ac.uk
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Microbiology - A Resource for Key Stage 5
Supports the teaching of Microbiology at Key Stage 5.
First copy free to school members. To join, go to www.sgm.ac.uk/membership/
Price to non-members £20.
- To order, please email book@sgm.ac.uk
Posters
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Classifying Microbes
The poster features the six distinct groups of micro-organisms with key points about each group. The eye-catching images of the microbes chosen show the diverse nature of each group.
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Effective Hand Washing
A3 pull-out poster demonstrating how to effectively wash your hands.
Practical microbiology
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Basic Practical Microbiology: A Manual
This manual, which explains the basic techniques necessary to carry out microbiology experiments safely and effectively, is intended as a guide for teachers and technicians.
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Practical Microbiology for Secondary Schools
Free. 21 safe practical investigations suitable for KS3 & 4/GCSE and equivalent Scottish qualifications. Many of the experiments also meet the needs of the AS/A2 specifications and can be adapted for project work.
Fact files
Fact files cover more specialist topics, which are relevant to the curriculum and science schemes of work. Written in an easily understood format, they take an in-depth look at the subject, contain useful images and illustrations and include sources of further information.
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Cholera: death by diarrhoea
A KS4 & post-16 resource (12 page booklet)
Cholera is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholera. There have been seven worldwide disease outbreaks or pandemics since 1817, killing millions of people and infecting millions more. This resource charts the history of the disease and investigates the causes, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of the disease, as well as vaccine development and community education strategies.
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Tuberculosis - Can the spread of this killer disease be halted?
A KS4 & post-16 resource (8 page booklet)
With an increase in tuberculosis (TB) throughout the world during the 21st century, what are scientists doing to combat a disease that many believed was a problem of the past? The TB factfile describes the disease, its symptoms and incidence and checks out the state of current research into Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative microbe.
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Influenza – A seasonal disease
A KS4 & post-16 resource (8 page booklet)
Influenza or flu is a common viral infection of the upper respiratory tract. This resource gives an overview of the disease, how the infection is transmitted and how vaccines are developed. It also explores the nature of flu epidemics and pandemics.
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Microbes and Climate Change
A KS4 & post-16 resource (8 page booklet)
Climate change is a hot topic and this 8 page booklet highlights the fundamental importance of micro-organisms as climate engineers.
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HIV & AIDS
A KS4 & post-16 resource (12 page booklet)
The resource clarifies the difference between HIV and AIDS, describes the virus, how it replicates and how it causes the disease. The stages of the infection are charted and transmission of HIV is explained, together with sections covering tests, treatments and work on developing an effective vaccine. New to this resource are some datasets for 2008 supplied by the United Nations.
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H1N1 Swine flu pandemic
A KS4 & post-16 resource (8 page booklet)
This booklet gives an overview of the swine flu story so far. In eight pages it covers the disease, the causal virus, how it is transmitted, who is affected and how the disease can be treated. International pandemic preparedness and the development of swine flu vaccines are also described.
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Cold Wars
A KS3 & KS4 resource (4 page booklet)
Information about the common cold including a practical activity to model the spread of this viral infection.
Comics
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Marvellous Microbes: The Pasteurs (Issue 1)
A KS2 and KS3 resource (4 page booklet with double sided experiment insert page)
Marvellous Microbes: The Pasteurs is the first ever microbiology comic strip to be produced by the SGM. The story follows Louis and Marie Pasteur in their quest to find out what makes bread rise. This resource is accompanied by a recipe for bread and two yeast experiments Yeast Power and High Rise Dough which can be performed at home or in the classroom.
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Marvellous Microbes: Hand Washing (Issue 2)
A KS2 and KS3 resource (4 page booklet with experiment page)
Marvellous Microbes: Hand Washing is the second in the series of microbiology comic strips produced by the SGM. The story follows a little girl called Lucy whose mum is encouraging her to wash her hands, Lucy learns about when and why she should wash her hands. The comic includes an experiment to try at home to look at how well we wash our hands.
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The Why, When, and How of Hand Washing
A KS2 and KS3 resource (4 page booklet)
The brightly coloured leaflet explains how good hand hygiene can reduce the spread of infection and also help prevent food poisoning.
Specially designed, bold cartoons are used to illustrate the key points and on the back is a list of fascinating facts about microbial transmission.
Further Resources
These resources have been produced for education and outreach events and are all aimed at age 16+
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Superbugs
Antibiotics are important medicines. They help fight infections caused by bacteria. Bacteria become antibiotic resistant by adapting to withstand the effects of an antibiotic they were previously sensitive to. Superbugs have adapted to resist multiple antibiotics including the last line drugs. They are a major cause of hospital acquired infections and cost the NHS £1 billion per year. This resource explains about the different types of superbugs and how they are treated.
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Travellers’ diarrhoea: boil it, peel it, cook it wash it or forget it!
Travellers’ diarrhoea (TD) is the most common illness that affects international travellers. Each year 20–60% of globetrotters, an estimated 10 million people, develop TD. This resource gives an overview of the microbes that cause TD, how the infection is transmitted, how it is treated and how it can be prevented.
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Down the plughole: on your teeth, in your gut
Have you ever wondered what’s in the slime lining your plugholes and drains or in the rough deposit coating your teeth at the end of the day?
This resource will introduce you the microbes which really do stick together in the most unusual places.
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Microbes on the Menu
While some micro‐organisms make us ill and others can be a nuisance by spoiling our food, without microbes there would be no bread, cheese, beer or chocolate. Friend or foe - food microbes are always on the menu.
This resource gives an overview of the microbes that are involved in the production of some of our favourite foods and includes a series of recipes for you to make a microbial feast!
Careers literature
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Choose Microbiology
An 8 page leaflet, A5 leaflet for secondary school students which answers questions about options and training requirements for a career in microbiology.
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Microbiologists make a difference
A 12 page, A4 booklet for post-16 students. Includes 9 career profiles.
Web-based resource
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The Food E-source
Micro-organisms are found in every environment on earth. This includes the food we eat. The majority of microbes in food are completely harmless but we tend to hear of the ones responsible for food poisoning - Salmonella, E.coli O157 and enteroviruses are often in the headlines. Yet while some make us ill and others can be a nuisance by causing spoilage, without the activities of microbes there would be no bread, cheese, beer or chocolate. Friend or foe, microbes are always on the menu. This interactive electronic (e) source takes at look at some of the microbes associated with food through the menu of a typical café. It reveals which kinds help to produce some of the ingredients, which ones can make the food unfit to eat and which ones might damage your health.
Find out more on the on the schoolscience website.
The resource is suitable for Key Stage 3 Science students and those studying GCSE Food Technology.