Microbial Box 2: What’s in your Petri?
Your Mission: Sample, grow, and investigate the microorganisms around us.
- formulate and prepare an inquiry-based investigation
- grow and study microbial life
- categorize microbes based on different properties
- think critically
- investigate the relationship of everyday products to microorganisms
- examine the impact of microorganisms on daily life
- discover that microorganisms have the greatest diversity of all living organisms
- explain how microorganisms are beneficial to humans and the environment
- connect healthy living habits from living in space to their schools and homes
- Per class:
- Clear adhesive tape
- Thermometer
- Small desk lamp or light (15–60 watt)
- Small container (such as medicine cup or cough syrup container)
- Anti-bacterial soap
- Incubator, using a hard-sided cooler OR a 10-gallon glass aquarium with heavy weight plastic (laminating plastic) and packing tape (See how to make a classroom incubator and determine other needed materials in Part 2’s pre-lesson instructions section and in Appendix B)
- Per group (4 students per group):
- 2 plastic cups
- ½-cup distilled water
- 2 permanent markers
- ½-cup weak bleach
- solution
- One 1-gallon zipper seal bag (to use at 48-hour observation period)
- Color pencils
- Per student:
- 1 Petri dish (with nutrient agar)
- 1 hand lens
- 1 cotton swab
- Eye protection
- Hand protection
- Copy of What’s in your Petri? Student Section
Explore more Mission X activities!
Your mission: Sharpen your senses to score the most goals and develop your reflexes. This resource was created by CNES, …
Time for a brain (and body) twisting game! Using your flexibility and agility, we want to see you navigate your …
Your Mission: Perform body-weight squats and push-ups to develop upper and lower body strength in muscles and bones. Astronauts must …
Let’s HIIT the space gym and get ready to sweat! To keep those hearts and lungs healthy, perform a series …
Your mission: Perform a course immersed in water using only your arms to prepare for your future extravehicular activity! This …
Your Mission Playing sports requires teamwork and preparation. Teammates must work together. In space, astronauts also must react to new …
Your mission: Finish the race as quickly as possible using your team spirit! This resource was created by CNES, ESERO …
Your mission: Complete an obstacle course in a wheelchair to develop your coordination and endurance. This resource was created by …
Your Mission: Perform an activity that blends together squats, pushups, and jumping in the air (burpees) to promote muscular strength, …
Your Mission: Identify which plants are suitable for growing in space as a good source of nutrition for astronauts. Food …
EN 
CZ 
DA 
NL 
ET 
FI 
FR 
DE 
EL 
IT 
JA 
LV 
NO 
PL 
PT 
RO 
ES 
SV 
HU 
SL 
TR