PL AR RSO P3L20 Exploring Materials IV WS_1

FUNGI AND BACTERIA IV (LESSON 11)

Primary 3: Rocket Science OEQ

Lesson Outline

• Notes
• Activity 1: Concept Recall
• Activity 2: Open-ended Questions
• Activity 3: Science in Daily Life

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Primary 3: Rocket Science OEQ

FUNGI (SINGULAR: FUNGUS) – NOTES
Fungi are living things which cannot make their own food like plants and cannot
move from one place to another like animals. Fungi and bacteria are called
decomposers. They break down dead matter into nutrients.
Examples of fungi: mould, yeast, bracket fungi, toadstool and mushroom.

Mould on strawberries Mould on the wall

Yeast Edible mushroom
Characteristics of fungi:

• Fungi need air, food and water to survive.
• They grow well in dark, moist and warm places. Lesson

• Fungi grow on dead or living matter and feed on them. AR Model – Yeast

• Some fungi such as the bracket fungi and mushrooms can be seen with
the unaided eye.

• Fungi such as the yeast can only be seen under the microscope.

• The organisms which can be seen under the microscope are called
micro-organisms.

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Primary 3: Rocket Science OEQ

FUNGI (SINGULAR: FUNGUS) – NOTES

Where are fungi found?

Fungi grow in places where there is lot of moisture. They can grow in toilets, in
corners of buildings, on wood, dead leaves or even the bodies of living things.

How do fungi obtain food?

Fungi feed on other living things, which may be dead or alive. They also do not
move from place to place in search of food. They cannot make their own food like
plants. Instead, they get their food by growing and feeding on other living things
or dead matter. For example, some fungi grow and feed on dead plants such as
rotting logs and human skin. A type of fungi, truffles, feeds on the roots of oak
trees.

How do fungi reproduce?

Fungi reproduce by producing spores. These spores are very tiny and light.
Some look like brown dust. Spores can survive very high or very low
temperatures. Spores that are released by fungi float in the air until they land on
a suitable surface to grow on. Spores of mushrooms can be found under the cap
which protects the gills.

Cap Scale Cap Gills
Gills Tubes Stalk
Ring Ring
Pores (annulus)
Volva Stipe
Scales Volva (universal
veil remnant)

AR Model – Mushroom

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Primary 3: Rocket Science OEQ

FUNGI (SINGULAR: FUNGUS) – NOTES

What are the harmful effects of bacteria?

• Some types of fungi can turn food bad. Mould can also grow on objects
made of leather, such as shoes and bags.

• Fungi can also grow on living things. Some fungi grow on damp skin
surfaces and can cause skin infections such as ring worm and toenail
fungus.

Sporangiophores 0.2 mm
Rhizopus stolonifer

Types of fungal infection

Mold fungal infection Tinea unguium

Yeast fungal infection

Uses of fungi:

• Fungi can be useful or harmful to us.

• Some fungi can be eaten.

• Many types of mushrooms can be eaten.

• A type of fungi, baker’s yeast, is used in baking e.g. bread.Another type
of yeast is used to brew beer. Special type of moulds is used to make
cheese and medicines such as antibiotics.

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Primary 3: Rocket Science OEQ

FUNGI (SINGULAR: FUNGUS) – NOTES
Why are mushrooms awesome?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fooP2ienR0
Discussion Questions
1. Where do fungi get their food from?
2. How do fungi digest food?
3. What happens if we eat mushrooms that are not edible?

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Primary 3: Rocket Science OEQ

BACTERIA(SINGULAR: BACTERIUM) – NOTES
Characteristics of bacteria:
Examples of Bacteria

Picture A Picture B

• Bacterium can be found in places such as plants, animals, soil, air and
water.

• They are micro -organisms and can only be seen under the microscope.

• Bacteria come in many shapes and sizes.

• Bacteria are found everywhere such as in plants, animals, soil, air and
water including our bodies.

• Bacteria feed on other living things or dead matter. Toothdecay is
caused by a type of bacteria which feeds on food residue found on
teeth. It is important to brush our teeth before going to bed to avoid
bacteria growing on the teeth.

• We should also wash our hands after using the washroom to avoid
bacterial infections.

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Primary 3: Rocket Science OEQ

BACTERIA(SINGULAR: BACTERIUM) – NOTES
How do bacteria obtain food?
Most bacteria cannot make their own food. They feed on other living things which
may be dead or alive.
Some bacteria can survive extremely high temperatures. They have been found
living in the deep sea, where temperatures are as high as 105 degrees Celsius.
That is hotter than boiling water.
How do bacteria reproduce?
Bacteria reproduce by binary fission. In this process, the bacterium, which is a
single cell, divides into two identical daughter cells.
What are the harmful effects of bacteria?
Some bacteria are harmful because they cause illnesses such as pneumonia and
influenza, which can be fatal.
Contaminated water carries bacteria which cannot be seen with the unaided eye.
When we drink this water, we may get diarrhea or fever.
Harmful bacteria such as salmonella can spoil food. Some food and drinks that
are left outside spoil quickly.An example is milk. Bacteria will grow quickly in milk
which is left outside and cause it to spoil.
Raw meat often contains harmful bacteria. Meat must be kept in the freezer to
slow down the growth of bacteria. Meat must be cooked properly to kill the
bacteria in it. This makes sure that we do not fall sick when we eat the meat.

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Primary 3: Rocket Science OEQ

BACTERIA(SINGULAR: BACTERIUM) – NOTES

Uses of bacteria:

• Our body contains useful bacteria which help to digest food. Some
bacteria are used in the production of food such as, cheese, vinegar,
yoghurt, soy sauce and fermented food. These help with our digestion
and are generally healthy for our body.

• Lactobacillus is a type of bacteria found in food such as yoghurt.
Lactobacillus can also be used to make food such as vinegar and
cheese.

• Some bacteria are used in making medicines, such as antibiotics.
Antibiotics are used to cure bacterial infections.

Probiotic drink Pasteurised milk

Louis Pasteur was a famous French scientist who discovered pasteurisation.
Pasteur discovered a way to kill the bacteria in the wine and later in milk.

Pasteurisation was later used in the production of milk which keeps the packaged
milk fresh for a longer period.

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Primary 3: Rocket Science OEQ

BACTERIA(SINGULAR: BACTERIUM) – NOTES
What are bacteria?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AaN8pSmtyV4
Discussion Questions
1. Name the three factors which classify bacteria as living organisms?
2. What are bacteria that cause diseases known as?
3. How can we prevent the spread of bacteria?

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Primary 3: Rocket Science OEQ

Activity 1 – Concept Recall Group Y
Match Group X to Group Y.

A Single cell organisms
B Baker’s yeast
C Mushroom
D Good bacteria
E Fungi and bacteria

Group X Letter
(i) Fungi
(ii) Bacteria
(iii) Yogurt
(iv) Decomposer
(v) Bread

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Primary 3: Rocket Science OEQ

Activity 2 – Open-ended Questions
1. Bill had 2 sliced oranges,Aand B. He placed the oranges at 2 different

places.

Sliced orange A Sliced orange B
Kept on the dining table
Placed under the sun until it
became dry

(a) Which sliced orange, A or B, is mould most likely to grow on? [1]

(b) Explain your answer in (a). [1]
(c) How does mould reproduce? [1]

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Primary 3: Rocket Science OEQ

2. The classificationtable shows how some living things are grouped.
Living things

Group W Group X Group Y Group Z

Eagle Balsam Hippopotamus Bacteria
Pigeon Moss Monkey Yeast

(a) Suggest a suitable heading for each group. [1]

Group W:
Group X:
Group Y:
Group Z:

(b) State one difference in characteristics between the living things in [2]
Group X and Z.

(c) Are bacteria considered useful or harmful or both? Explain why. [2]

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Primary 3: Rocket Science OEQ

3. The flowchart shows how some animals can be classified into groups P,Q, R
and S.

Living Thing

Is it a Yes Is it a Yes
plant? flowering P

plant?

No Yes No
R Q
Can it be
found in

air?

No

S

(a) Based on the flowchart, which group, P. Q, R or S, can each of the
following living things be classified in? Use each letter only once. [ 2 ]

Bracket Fern Bacterium Balsam plant
fungus

(b) State another characteristic of a bacterium which is not found in the

flowchart. [1]

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Primary 3: Rocket Science OEQ

(c) Give an example of another living thing that can be classified in [1]
Group S.

4. Zachary wanted to find out if mould needs light to grow. He placed a slice of
identical bread each on two plates, Q and R, and sprinkled water on them.
Plate Q was placed in a dark cupboard and plate R was left by a windowsill.

Plate Q Plate R

(a) What would he observe about the slices on plates Q and R at the [1]
end of two weeks?

(b) What conclusion can he make from the experiment? [1]

(c) State two variables that he should keep the same to ensure a fair [2]
test.

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Primary 3: Rocket Science OEQ

Activity 3 – Science in Daily Life: Introducing the human gut microbiome.

https://youtu.be/fr2TuoLjvLk

Discuss Answer

Before the video Where do you find
micro-organisms?
Are micro-organisms
found in and on our
body?
Let’s find out more

about them.

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Primary 3: Rocket Science OEQ

Discuss Answer

0:42 How does our gut
0:48 micro biome aid us?
2:07
Why is diversity in
bacteria needed in our
gut?

What helps the micro
biome to be healthy?

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