Vocabulary: Microorganisms

Subject: Science | Year: 6

Name: _________________________ Class/Set: ____________ Date: ____________

Word	Definition	Example Sentence
Microorganism	A living thing that is so small it can only be seen using a microscope.	We used a magnifying lens to look for a microorganism in the pond water.
Bacteria	Tiny, single-celled organisms that can be found almost everywhere; some are helpful, while others cause disease.	Some types of bacteria are used to turn milk into yoghurt.
Virus	A tiny infectious agent that can only reproduce inside the cells of a living host.	The common cold is caused by a virus that spreads easily between people.
Fungi	A group of organisms, such as mould or yeast, that absorb nutrients from organic matter — mould breaks down dead matter, while yeast ferments sugars.	We observed the fungi growing on the surface of the old bread.
Microscope	A scientific instrument used to make very small objects look much larger.	To see the cells clearly, the scientist placed the slide under the microscope.
Decompose	The process where microorganisms break down dead plants and animals into simpler nutrients.	Bacteria and fungi help to decompose fallen leaves in the forest.
Infection	What happens when harmful microorganisms enter the body and begin to multiply, often making a person feel unwell.	Washing your hands regularly helps to prevent a nasty infection from spreading.
Antibiotics	A type of medicine used by doctors to kill or stop the growth of harmful bacteria.	The doctor prescribed antibiotics to help clear up the patient's chest illness.
Fermentation	A chemical process where microorganisms like yeast break down sugars, often used in bread making.	During fermentation, the yeast produces carbon dioxide gas which makes the dough rise.
Specimen	A small sample of something, such as a drop of water or a piece of tissue, taken for scientific study.	The class examined a specimen of pond water to look for signs of life.

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⚠ TEACHER’S GUIDANCE

💡 Pedagogical Opportunities

• Model: Use the "Frayer Model" for the word Microorganism. Ask students to provide examples (Bacteria, Yeast) and non-examples (Insects, Plants) to solidify the concept of scale.
• Explain: Address the common misconception that all microorganisms are 'germs' or harmful. Explicitly highlight the roles of 'helpful' bacteria in digestion and fermentation.
• Discussion: Ask students to contrast a virus with bacteria. Note for the teacher: Viruses are generally much smaller and cannot be killed by antibiotics, which is a vital distinction for Year 6 health education.
• Oracy: Encourage students to use the word specimen when referring to their slides during practical science lessons to build professional laboratory vocabulary.

✔ Answer Key & Mapping

• Task 1 (Vocabulary Retrieval): The definitions provided in the table above serve as the marking criteria for any subsequent cloze or matching activities.
• Task 2 (Contextual Application): When marking student sentences, ensure the word decompose is used in a biological context rather than a general 'breaking' context.
• Task 3 (Scientific Accuracy): Ensure students distinguish between the tool (microscope) and the subject (microorganism) to avoid lexical confusion during 'Working Scientifically' assessments.