Microbes: tiny living things around us — Biology, 7–10 years
Microbes are living things too small to see without special equipment. Some can make us ill, but many are harmless or useful, helping make food, recycle materials and live in our bodies.
A hidden world of tiny life
Microbes include bacteria, some fungi and other tiny living things. They live on skin, in soil, water and food, although we usually cannot see them. A few cause disease, while others help us or help nature break things down.
Why learn about microbes?
People once blamed illness on bad air or luck because the cause was invisible. Careful observations showed that some diseases spread through tiny living agents. This led to handwashing, safer food and medicines that target particular microbes.
Worked example: why bread moulds
Put one slice of bread in a sealed bag and leave another on a clean plate. After several days, you may see fuzzy mould spots, especially where there is warmth and moisture. Mould is a fungus growing from tiny spores, using the bread as food.
Trap: every microbe is dangerous
It is reasonable to be cautious when invisible germs can spread illness. But “microbe” means a very small living thing, not automatically a harmful one. Yoghurt bacteria help make food, and decomposer microbes return materials to the soil.
Microbes in everyday life
We wash hands and keep food cold to reduce the spread or growth of harmful microbes. Friendly microbes help make yoghurt, cheese and bread, while others help compost leaves. Antibiotics can fight some bacteria, but they do not work against viruses.
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