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Grades 5–10. Working in teams, students explore soil formation, soil characteristics, and the effects of environmental conditions on soil microbes. The activities allow students to apply STEM concepts to the exploration of microbes. Includes free access to the LaMotte® BioPaddles® Colony ID™ Lite App.

A fun, safe way to bring STEM-based learning into your classroom!
Grades 5–10. This complete STEM-based curriculum guides students through the culturing and presumptive identification of common microbes on innovative LaMotte® BioPaddles®. Each paddle contains microbe-specific media enclosed in a sterile vial. Working in teams, students explore soil formation, soil characteristics, and the effects of environmental conditions on soil microbes. Groups prepare and assess their samples using contact impression technique, dilution technique, root wash technique, and the Rossi-Cholodny buried slide contact transfer technique. Students identify microbial diversity in their various environmental soil samples. Kit includes teacher's manual, student guide, and presentations on CD-ROM; magnifying lenses; and LaMotte® Tryptic Soy/Rose Bengal BioPaddles®. Kit also includes free access to the LaMotte® BioPaddles® Colony ID™ Lite App to compare "unknown" microbe growth on the BioPaddles® against a library of photos. Extra Tryptic Soy/Rose Bengal BioPaddles® (item #653579) may be purchased to perform additional activities included in the teacher's manual.

Topics include:

• Effect of Fertilizer on Lawn Microbe Populations
• Rhizosphere Ecosystems
• Biological Soil Crusts
• Biopesticides

STEM activities include:

• Is There Such a Thing as Sterile Soil?
• Investigating Soil Inoculants
• Soil Crust Hunt

Note: This item is shipped via ground from the manufacturer in Maryland on Mondays and Tuesdays only, and delivered Wednesday through Friday only (depending on delivery location). Please allow 2 weeks advance notice with specific Monday or Tuesday shipping date.