KS3: Harmful Microbes

Students are introduced to a number of health issues that can be caused by harmful microbes. This lesson demonstrates the different ways in which bacteria, viruses and fungi can be pathogenic to humans, and aligns well with PHSE/RSHE guidelines relating to health & prevention.

Scroll down for more information and to download resources.

Download the complete lessonDownload DOCX Download PDF

Learning objectives

All students will:

Understand that sometimes microbes can make us ill and cause infection
Understand that harmful microbes can pass from person to person
Understand that different infections cause different symptoms
Understand how global travel has influenced the spread of disease

Most students will:

Understand how individuals, groups, and organisations work together when responding to infectious diseases outbreaks

Background Information

Some microbes can be harmful to humans and can cause disease: the Influenza virus causes the ‘flu’ (short for ‘Influenza’ – other respiratory tract infections (RTIs) that cause similar symptoms are the ‘common cold’ or ‘influenza-like illness’), Campylobacter bacteria can cause food poisoning and the dermatophyte fungi, such as Trichophyton, can cause diseases such as athlete’s foot and ringworm. Microbes like these are known as pathogens. Each microbe can make us ill in different ways.

Someone who is ill because of a harmful disease-causing microbe is said to be infected. Many harmful microbes can pass from one person to another by a number of different routes – air, touch, water, food, aerosols (such as sneezes and water vapour), animals, etc. Diseases caused by such microbes are said to be infectious diseases.

In this lesson, students explore what microbes cause well known diseases, and the symptoms, transmission, preventative measures and potential treatments for each disease.