Tag: microbes

Classroom Ideas, Main, This Week in Geographic History

Weekly Warm-Up: 6 Ways to Introduce Students to Biodiversity

May 22 is the International Day for Biological Diversity, established by the United Nations. But when biodiversity exists everywhere from the Amazon Basin to the inside of your own belly button, where do you begin? Check out six of our resources that provide entryways to teaching the topic. 1. Powerful Pollinators 75 percent of the world’s major crops rely on bees, birds, and other creatures for pollination. In … Continue reading Weekly Warm-Up: 6 Ways to Introduce Students to Biodiversity

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Classroom Ideas, Current Event Connection, Main

Should You Break the 5-Second Rule?

HEALTH Supposedly, dropped food is relatively hygienic for about five seconds. Is there any truth to this supposed “rule”? (BBC) Use our resources to better understand why the five-second rule is . . . misunderstood. Teachers, scroll down for a quick list of key resources in our Teachers’ Toolkit. Discussion Ideas What is the “five-second rule”? The five-second rule is an urban legend that contends … Continue reading Should You Break the 5-Second Rule?

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Current Event Connection, Geography In the News

Iceman’s Gut Holds Clues to Human Migration

SCIENCE Otzi the Iceman, a frozen mummy from the Italian Alps, may have died with a wicked stomach ache—which helps date migration waves from Africa and Asia. (Nat Geo News) Use our resources to learn more about Otzi. Teachers, scroll down for a quick list of key resources, including a link to today’s simple MapMaker Interactive map. Discussion Ideas Take a look at the photograph … Continue reading Iceman’s Gut Holds Clues to Human Migration

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Creature Feature, Current Event Connection

Mite-y DNA Helps Trace Human Migration

SCIENCE The mites that live on human skin could help scientists study the history and relationships of human populations. (The Atlantic) Watch our video to get an up-close view of these misunderstood microbes. Teachers, scroll down for a quick list of key resources in our Teachers’ Toolkit. Discussion Ideas The new scientific research studied populations of face mites. What are mites? Mites are microscopic arthropods. … Continue reading Mite-y DNA Helps Trace Human Migration

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Classroom Ideas, Current Event Connection, Exploring Our World, This Week in Geographic History

The Tiny Truth About Germs

The cover photo for this post is a microscopic image of fungi, courtesy Fernando Santos and FEI. With stories about Ebola consuming our newsfeeds these days, it’s probably been hard to avoid discussing the outbreak with your students. But as new cases are discovered and treated, is there anything else to talk about? What questions are emerging from your classroom? One way to continue the … Continue reading The Tiny Truth About Germs

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