It is ironic that we started this activity prior to the recent "bugs" that have been troubling our immune systems. For the past week the Science Skills class have been conducting a bacteria study on everyday objects found in our school. Our journey began after the students had been divided into two teams; red and blue. Students first had to conduct research and pass a quiz on bacteria. The research process was educational as well as entertaining due to a few student comments and realizations of the different types of bacteria.
The fun began as we took a nature walk through the school for the two groups to plan the sites of the "swabbing." A few teachers were invaded for various acts of "swabbing;" from Mrs. Meritt's toe, keyboards, and the most poplar book from the library. Both groups were supplied with three petri dishes to examine their bacteria samples. For both groups perti dish "A," consisted of a skin sample from each group member. The eight samples remaining to be examined in petri dishes "B" and "C" were chosen by the group members. Some samples that were chosen were door knobs, hand dryers, the handle on the hand sanitizers, and various areas throughout the school. 
Students collected data on the growing bacteria for one week, which added to the meaning of "you never know what is growing in my classroom." I was amazed just as much as they were on the growth of the bacteria, which would be frightening for the untrained brain. Bacteria is both good and bad. Its been a hard task to prove this with all the bad bacteria floating around over the past weeks, but one bit of information that the students learned from this experience was that we would be far worst off if there were no bacteria.
Keep following my blog to stay caught up with the class! You just never know what will be unleashed in Miss Sidebottom's classroom....or what jar will be opened!!
